A Splendor of Letters: The Permanence of Books in an Impermanent World

Nicholas A. Basbanes

HarperCollins, Nov 2, 2004 - Literary Criticism - 464 pages

In A Splendor of Letters, Nicholas A. Basbanes continues the lively, richly anecdotal exploration of book people, places, and culture he began in 1995 with A Gentle Madness (a finalist that year for the National Book Critics Circle Award) and expanded in 2001 with Patience & Fortitude, a companion work that prompted the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and biographer David McCullough to proclaim him "the leading authority of books about books." In this beautifully packaged edition, Basbanes brings to a close his wonderful trilogy on the remarkable world of books and bibliophiles.

About the author

Nicholas A. Basbanes has worked as an award-winning investigative reporter, a literary editor, and a nationally syndicated columnist. The author of five books, he also writes a regular column for Fine Books & Collections magazine and lectures widely on book-related issues. He and his wife, Constance, live in Massachusetts.

Bibliographic information

• Title: A Splendor of Letters: The Permanence of Books in an Impermanent World
• Author: Nicholas A. Basbanes
• Edition: reprint
• Publisher: HarperCollins, 2004
• ISBN: 0060580801, 9780060580803
• Length: 464 pages
• Subjects: Antiques & Collectibles / General; History / General; Literary Criticism / Books & Reading