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| Highclere Castle Library |
Since the
introduction of “Downton Abbey”, life in the great houses has fascinated
me. Not the stairs or the gowns and not
the life style of the occupants, but it is the signature possessions that
indicate “Now, here! And here! Well-to-do people live here!”
For me, the
greatest indicators are the libraries (li-brees).
Authenticity
and status demanded floor to ceiling bookshelves, weighted with huge ancient
books. Faded leather bindings and
spines, line up carefully with huge tomes on the top shelf, newer books in
descending shelves.
Even in the
respectable American homes, loaded bookcases mark the home as being one of
means.
So many
questions, I have so many:
1. How is the library used in those
houses?
2. Do the Aged Leather bound books way
up on top have a meaning?
3. Did anyone read those books?
4. If they did, where would one start?
5. If the books were read, did anyone
read them from start to finish?
6. Who re-shelved these books?
7. Would one have a cool library ladder?
8. Who dusted those books (a female
servant?)?
9. What happened to those books as they
deteriorated? And who ever checked to see if the crumbling books should be thrown
out?
Did anyone actually know what books
they had?
That is
all I wanted to know. Well,not all, but I am certain you may have questions of your own. Any answers?
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| I want #78 on the third shelf down. |
They all do have such huge libraries. No way one could ever read them all unless that is all they ever did.
ReplyDeleteThe sheer numbers of books and the investment made for them makes my head hurt.
DeleteInstead of googling they used a ladder. With servants I'm sure they were cleaned often., Our house was always full of books. When a question was asked, we looked it up.
ReplyDeleteWe are the same. I have a real, honest-to-goodness Webster's Dicitonary sitting on one of my Irish stools by my desk. I enjoy it.
DeleteSome of them are so old, I'd be afraid to touch them. And yes, can you imagine the dusting?
ReplyDeleteI don't think the paper quality was always top notch, so I wonder how the books survived.
DeleteRemember Lydgate? He read his uncle's library from top to bottom. I recall more than a few heroes who read they neglectful guardian's library.
ReplyDeleteThat makes me feel relieved that books in some huge libraries are read.
DeleteI want to use those libraries . . .
ReplyDeleteHeck, I would like to just touch them.
DeleteI wonder what system they used to keep them in order. Did they have a standing order with the bookstore to send them every new publication?
ReplyDeleteHaving a standing order makes sense. We have enforced a rule that if a new book comes to our house, an older book must move on. It hurts, I know.
DeleteA cool library ladder is a must, so the young housemaid can get up to dust the highest shelves while the dissolute younger son of the family wanders about in there trying to see up her skirts and talk her into meeting him behind the dairy later on.
ReplyDeleteI would love, LOVE a library! with a ladder of course, a desk, tiffany lamps, leather sofas and armchairs with high enough backs to support the head when I fall asleep reading.
A ladder and a comfortable wing back chair are musts.
DeleteAfter reading a good book, I usually give it away so someone else can enjoy it. Number 8 also figures in that decision as I have no downstair maids.
ReplyDeleteWe live in a single level home, but my husband has books stacked around his share. He refuses to give them away.
DeleteInteresting questions. I love those old home libraries. It would be wonderful to have a house like that, but a staff of care keepers would be an absolute necessity or one wouldn't have time to enjoy much because they always be tending to the care of the house.
ReplyDeleteNow my office bookshelves look so sad.
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
At least your bookcase holds books you hold dear.
DeleteNo, sorry, no answers. Of course, they had generations to amass those collections. Perhaps one of the kids got into them at some point.
ReplyDeleteOh, I hope so!! If all the kids got together and started tossing the books about the library. Awesome.
DeleteI agree they could never know all that's in there, or get to reading them, for sure. But there's something so wonderful about stepping into a room like that... public or private. It just feels comfy/warm/home.
ReplyDeleteIt feels like one is being welcomed by all those books, welcomed as part of the family, and engulfs warmly. I'd love to visit but wouln't stay.
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