Burning Books: A Review Essay

Abstract

The great scholarly project of the social sciences and humanities hovers over these two books. It is the study of the formation and main tenance of culture and the meaning of those objects?writings, art, architecture, city plans, the implements of everyday life?that embody culture. One of the major themes of this project is how the cultural meaning and therefore the treatment of cultural objects change with time and circumstances. Neither of the books considered here actually deals with this project or explicitly acknowledges it, but both treat one significant aspect of it: the destruction of books and libraries. Reading their work gives one the impression that Haig Bosmajian and Rebecca Knuth approach their subject with ethical rather than scholarly aims. Both authors evince a palpable moral outrage at the destruction of books that colors their treatment of their topic, and this moralizing raises a question. Are they engaged in a scholarly study of the destruction of books or in a crusade to persuade their readers that such destruction is contrary to the core values of civilization? Given the tone of his writing, Bosmajian may be on a crusade. Knuth claims to be pursuing a scholarly project, but her judgmental treatment of book burners and destroyers of libraries creates a contrary impression. Bosmajian claims to have written the first comprehensive history of book burning, there having been many books and articles about particular instances of such destruction. So the question in his case is, What will a comprehensive survey contribute to our knowledge of the frequency, context, and motivations of book burning? The answer is,