Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
I love eBooks, but, on the other hand, there's something about a well-made book that's very satisfying too. I have a number of books that are several hundred years old - several with many owners' signatures in them, and it gives me a real feeling of "continuity" to know that I'm reading the very same book that was being enjoyed by someone 300 years ago. I often wonder who those people were, and what kind of lives they led.
|
I do love beautiful old books. Sadly my dust and mold allergies prevent me from fully enjoying them. I have an old anthology of the complete works of Shakespeare that once belonged to a teacher. It's not hundreds of years old like your prized volumes. It's about 50. Still, it has her notes in the margins. It's such a treat. It has some newspaper clippings folded in the pages. She loved this book. It was obviously something she turned to on a refular basis. You can practically see her hands on the cover. I wonder why her family didn't keep it. I feel honored to have it. I've gotten rid of most of my public domain books but I'd never part with this one. Sadly, I can only spend a few minutes with it at a time before my eyes are red and I'm sneezing. I have to wash my hands right after I handle it. I wish I could have something of her experience with the volume without the trouble that comes from the physical medium.