Book Heaven

Author: Zhong Fangling
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Journeying through various book worlds, exploring the art of bookbinding, publishing, restoration, collecting, and auctions; interpreting the legendary figures in the book industry. A professional record of the Western book industry, engaging in comprehensive dialogues with elite figures from both China and the West. This book is not just about books or a travelogue. It is the first book in the Chinese-speaking world that offers a comprehensive dialogue with the elite of Western book culture. Moreover, the chapter "The Morgan Library" commemorates the establishment of the Morgan Library by American tycoons J.P. Morgan and his son, a model for Chinese entrepreneurs to learn from, and we eagerly anticipate the emergence of libraries like Haier Library and Lenovo Library in the near future.
The book is divided into two main parts: "People of Books" and "Places of Books." The section "High-Tech and Antique Books" introduces John Warnock, the founder of Adobe Systems, Inc., who is also an antique book collector. He founded Octavo, bridging the gap between the Gutenberg era and the digital book age in Western printing civilization. Other fascinating topics include old magazines, the joy of collecting books, vinyl records, book covers, book festivals, book ladders, bookshelves, the love of libraries, and the pairing of book lovers of all ages (e.g., Johnson and Boswell). It can be seen as a series of exciting dialogues with various heroes and heroines of the Western book industry.
In "Bookstore Landscapes in Films," the book merges the worlds of bookstores and cinema. Other chapters, such as "Encountering Books Everywhere," "Airport Bookstores," "Blue Ridge House Antiquarian Books," "Shangri-La of Book Lovers," and "Gold Mine of Book Lovers," are extensions of her previous book "Bookstore Landscapes," but the writing has reached an unparalleled height. The author employs panoramic, in-depth interviews, reports, and vivid portrayals, exploring the world of books and interpreting the legendary figures, thereby becoming a professional chronicler of Western books.