At once a fascinating history of mankind’s need to document itself and a manifesto for its survival in an increasingly digital future, Burning the Books is also a very human story animated by an unlikely cast of adventurers, self-taught archaeologists, poets, freedom-fighters -- and, of course, librarians and archivists: the heroic lengths they will go to preserve and rescue knowledge against all the odds. The Movie Quiz: What is Sean Connery’s last feature role? Explore Japanese folklore with The Book of Yokai. For the best site experience please enable JavaScript in your browser settings, The BBC still rues the day Jeremy Clarkson hit an Irishman, Irish-made tinnitus device cuts symptoms in 80% of patients, Trump engineered sudden windfall in 2016 as campaign funds dwindled, Covid-19: Cabinet sub-committee agrees to introduce fines system for rule breakers, ‘I’m sorry’: Court hears of last message of dying Vietnamese migrant, Trump set to make first public appearance since Covid-19 diagnosis, Covid-19: Five additional deaths and 617 new cases confirmed, Limerick doctor who spoke at anti-mask rally remains defiant, Kilkenny family wins €5.4 million with Lotto numbers used for over 25 years, Sam McConkey’s Spinal Tap moment takes the restrictions debate to Level 10, Social welfare ‘chaos’ experienced by airline staff, Jennifer O'Connell: We’re on a train bound for Level 5, and there’s no way off, Minister warns of further restrictions as North records largest daily increase, Covid-19: UCC confirms cases among students in campus accommodation, Elizabeth Day: ‘The way society treats women without children made me feel like a failure’, Coronavirus: Extended mid-term break discussed but plan for now is to keep schools open, Sporting Upsets: Soderling ends Nadal’s clay court dominance. My thoughts covering preservation, conservation and archiving of information. Booking closes at 4pm on Wednesday 7th October. Something went wrong. We work hard to protect your security and privacy. At once a powerful history of civilisation and a manifesto for the vital importance of physical libraries in our increasingly digital age, Burning the Books is also a very human story animated by an unlikely cast of adventurers, self-taught archaeologists, poets, freedom-fighters -- and, of course, librarians and the heroic lengths they will go to preserve and rescue knowledge, ensuring that civilisation survives. In the current changing landscape of knowledge and power, this urgent, lucid book calls out to us all to recognise and defend one of our most precious public goods – libraries and archives.”, “Burning the Books’ is both timely and authoritative. Stop Killing Us: My story and the history of racism in America. Allow Facebook friends to see your upcoming events? Richard Ovenden OBE is the 28th Bodley’s Librarian (since the post was set up in 1599) at the Bodelian Library in Oxford. An engaging and timely survey of the villains who destroy written records of the past – … It was like Islamic State taking over Disneyland. BBC Radio 4 - Burning the Books: A History of the Deliberate Destruction of Knowledge by Richard Ovenden Book of the week. MUST READ book on what it means to be black in America. Please check by using, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. In our digital age, we are drowning in information, faced with new and complex challenges around data preservation and organisation; at the same time, libraries and archives are suffering huge funding cuts, media censorship is a global phenomenon and fake news is rife. Budget 2021: Who will be the winners and losers? If this item isn't available to be reserved nearby. Fixation on daily tally of Covid cases distracts from what must be done, Cliff Taylor: No point in saving Christmas if we end up destroying the economy, ‘There’s nothing to forgive’: Pete Best on being sacked from The Beatles, Brexit: EU seeks British concessions to clinch trade deal, Aidan O’Brien faces large fine after case of mistaken identity at Newmarket, A vegetarian stew with a tasty cheesy twist, Trump’s handling of his illness only deepens his electoral trouble, Sudden death of 1980 Olympian Pat Hooper, aged 68. To order your copy for £16.99, visit Telegraph Books. Listen to the Greatest Generation's old-fashioned wisdom and insight about modern-day technologies that America’s future generations need to know. Richard Ovenden, director of Oxford’s world-famous Bodleian explores everything from what really happened to the Great Library of Alexandria to John Murray’s burning Byron’s memoirs to save his literary reputation, from Donald Trump’s deleting embarrassing tweets to the scandal of the Windrush records.