Library History

A history of libraries and the people who built them, from the ancient world to the digital age “Engaging [and] ambitious” (The Washington Post) The history of the library is rich, varied, and stuffed full of incident. In The Library, historians Andrew Pettegree and Arthur...

Discover the hidden wisdom that shaped early Christianity with this comprehensive collection of ancient texts translated into clear, accessible modern English. This definitive edition brings together the most important Gnostic writings ever discovered, including the complete texts from the renowned Nag Hammadi Library. Unlike academic translations filled with archaic language, this collection presents these profound teachings in contemporary English that speaks directly to modern readers. What's Inside: The Gospel of Thomas - Jesus's secret sayings and hidden wisdom The Gospel of Mary - The...

Libraries are much more than mere collections of volumes. The best are magical, fabled places whose fame has become part of the cultural wealth they are designed to preserve. The Library is a celebration of books as objects, a celebration of the anthropology and physicality of books and bookish space, and an account of the human side of these hallowed spaces by a leading and passionate bibliophile.

Where the Library Hides is Isabel Ibañez's stunning conclusion to the story that started in What the River Knows. A lush immersive historical fantasy set in Egypt filled with adventure, and a rivals-to-lovers romance like no other! "Ana Osorio and Ahmed Hamad are consistently excellent as they...

Hidden behind the world’s greatest breakthroughs are stories of rivalry, betrayal, and brilliance that were never meant to be revealed. Every invention you recognize was born from a secret you don’t—buried experiments, silenced geniuses, and discoveries twisted by power. Imagine unlocking the true human drama behind Tesla’s battles, Da Vinci’s encoded messages, Vatican vault secrets, forbidden alchemists, and doctors condemned for seeing what others refused to believe. These are real people, real obsessions, and real consequences that shaped the modern world far beyond what ...

Madeleine Verchère's story is based on a true account of colonial French Canada of the 1690s. Harassed by Iroquois, the Verchère family's fort must keep a continual guard. 14-year-old Madeleine is left alone with two younger brothers and few others when the Indians attack. We follow the brave and determined stratagems of Madeleine and her small circle. Madeleine's youthful leadership, especially of her brothers, will win the reader's admiration.

Instant #1 New York Times bestseller! #1 Washington Post bestseller! #1 Indie Bestseller! USA Today Bestseller! John Green, acclaimed author and passionate advocate for global healthcare reform, tells a deeply human story illuminating the fight against the world’s deadliest...

The definitive oral history of the 1967 novel for teens, turned blockbuster film turned Tony-winning musical, and commemorated with a newly opened museum. This groundbreaking story has managed to stay gold for nearly sixty years. *Includes interviews with Rob Lowe, Ralph Macchio, C. Thomas...

Discover how twelve centuries of Japanese art hold the keys to understanding everything from Zen mindfulness to your iPhone’s sleek design. What You Should Know About Japanese Art History invites you on a captivating journey from the Heian court’s gilded screens (794) to Meiji Japan’s revolutionary collision of ink and oil (1912). Imagine walking beside noblewomen composing waka poetry in vermilion-lit palaces, where Yamato-e scrolls captured love’s fleeting beauty. Feel the spiritual intensity of Kamakura’s lifelike Buddhas—carved for samurai seeking solace—and lose yourself ...

Discover the secrets of our past and unlock a deeper understanding of human development. Immerse yourself in the legacies of ancient civilizations and uncover the interconnectedness and impact they still hold today. Gain a comprehensive overview of the most pivotal societies that have shaped human history. Experience the achievements, beliefs, and complexities of ancient cultures through captivating narratives. Delve into the advancements of ancient China, the diverse culture of the Persian Empire, and the enduring legacies of the Maurya and Byzantine Empires. Learn about the foundational ...

Myths! Lies! Failed satellite launches? Head to the launch pad, the History Smashers are busting the biggest misconceptions about the Space-Race, and the facts are blasting off in 10-9-8… On April 14, 1969, President John F. Kennedy announced that the U.S. would put a man on the moon kicking...

Secrets? Myths? One giant boxed set? The award-winning History Smashers series delivers a four-audiobook collection that takes down some of the biggest misconceptions, secrets, and outright lies of early American history! In 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed across the ocean and discovered...

The iconic Miss Marple must investigate the case of a girl found dead in Agatha Christie’s classic mystery, The Body in the Library. It’s seven in the morning. The Bantrys wake to find the body of a young woman in their library. She is wearing an evening dress and heavy makeup, which is now...

NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD WINNER NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER “Of all the stories that argue and speculate about Shakespeare’s life ... here is a novel ... so gorgeously written that it transports you." —The Boston Globe In 1580’s England, during the Black Plague a young...

Tucked just beyond offices and a lecture hall in the heart of London lies a turquoise door. Intrigued, James Cheshire stepped through and was astonished by what he found inside: thousands of maps and atlases, spilling out of wooden drawers. It was a map library. Here, Jams transports us to the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, when the library’s maps were wielded for war and negotiated during peace; when its charts traced, for the first time, the icy peaks of the Himalayas.

THE DEFINITIVE EDITION Discovered in the attic in which she spent the last years of her life, the remarkable diary that has become a world classic—a powerful reminder of the horrors of war and an eloquent testament to the human spirit. Updated for the 75th Anniversary of the Diary’s...

Red Hugh was a true champion for Irish liberty from Queen Elizabeth's constricting reign in the late 1580's and beyond. Hugh's capture, imprisonment, and escape from the Dublin Castle; his triumph over a blizzard and frostbite; his dramatic rescue of his family's castle; his conflict with the evil Captain Leeds; and his inexhaustible love for Ireland make this a wonderful book for the entire family.

Myths! Lies! Secrets! Smash the stories behind famous moments in history and expose the hidden truth. Perfect for fans of I Survived and Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales. In 1620, the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock and made friends with Wampanoag people who gave them corn. RIGHT? WRONG! It was...

A teen girl’s attempt to make amends with her former friend group takes a sinister turn during a weekend getaway at an ancestral Irish estate in this atmospheric, literary horror from the author of Those We Drown. There’s something in the lake at Wren Hall. At least, that’s what the locals...

Myths! Lies! Secrets! Uncover the hidden truth behind the Revolutionary War with beloved educator/author Kate Messner. Perfect for fans of I Survived! and Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales. On April 18, 1775, Paul Revere rode through Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, shouting, "The British are...