The Care of Books
The Care of Books, published in 1901, is John Willis Clark's history of libraries and their furniture from antiquity to the end of the eighteenth century. Clark, registrary of Cambridge University and a historian of its buildings, follows the book from the rolls of Greece and Rome through the monastic armarium and cloister carrell, the chained lecterns of medieval colleges, the stalls and presses of Oxford and Cambridge, the great libraries of the Renaissance and the wall-shelved rooms of the baroque. He pays attention to practical things, chains, desks, catalogues, lighting and the treatment of damp, and the text is accompanied by plans and drawings. It is the standard account of how libraries came to look as they do. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The Care of Books
The Care of Books by John Willis Clark can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Care of Books online?
Yes. The Care of Books opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Care of Books free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Care of Books is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Care of Books in the public domain?
Yes. The Care of Books by John Willis Clark is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Care of Books?
About 7 h 42 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Care of Books?
The Care of Books by John Willis Clark is filed under "History" in the Vinteuil library.
