The Blades, William 1824-1890 creator text utu 1998 monographic en 1 online resource : multiple file formats "The Enemies of Books" by William Blades is a historical account written in the late 19th century. The book addresses the various threats that books face over time, including physical destruction by fire, water, neglect, and even human ignorance and bigotry. The author meticulously documents notable instances of library destruction and the carelessness that has harmed invaluable texts throughout history. The beginning of "The Enemies of Books" outlines the devastating impact of fire on libraries and manuscripts, citing examples from various historical periods, such as the burning of the Alexandria library and incidents during the Great Fire of London. Blades argues that such losses to humanity's literary treasures are incalculable. He illustrates how these calamities have not only affected written works but also shaped our understanding of cultural heritage. As he details notable events of destruction by fire, the text sets the foundation for a larger discussion on the preservation and vulnerability of books, highlighting the importance of safeguarding literary artifacts for posterity. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Fire -- Water -- Gas and heat -- Dust and neglect -- Ignorance -- The bookworm -- Other vermin -- Bookbinders -- Collectors -- Conclusion: Reverence for old books Release date is 1998-05-01 Produced by Charles Keller, and David Widger Original publication data not identified Books -- Conservation and restoration Book-worms Z Original publication data not identified https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1302 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1302 UtSlPG 260607 20260610133043.0 1302