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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. |
