When I visit stately homes and mansions and find myself in the library, I often wonder if the residents actually read any of the thousands of books displayed on the library shelves. Or are they just there for display purposes to impress their friends.
Looking at the subject matter, I feel the latter may well be the case. I suspect there is a shop somewhere that sells impressive leather bound books by the yard to the landed gentry and the aristocracy who want to appear well read and educated.
I scoured the entire library at Lanhydroc and the only book that peaked my interest was a very old old volume about 18th century nautical navigation with the aide of a sextant........ but each to his own.
I got the distinct impression that the curators and custodians of these libraries would take a very dim view of anyone who actually tried to read any of the books on display.
The thought also struck me that the beautifuil leather bound volume of Gualtherus's Archtypi Homillarum evangelia may even hide her ladyships illicit copy of 50 shades of grey.
Like you Billy I wondered the same thing, my thoughts are I they might of read a few of them but the size of some of these library's it would be nigh on impossible to read them all just because of the size of the books them selves. So they are just for show and impress their friends.
I would love to get my hands on the book of 18thC navigation with the aid of a sextant that would make very interesting reading.
August 19th, 2017
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I would love to get my hands on the book of 18thC navigation with the aid of a sextant that would make very interesting reading.