The Country House Library

This is a sumptuous book, lavishly illustrated, double-columned, to be recommended unreservedly to anyone interested in the history of private libraries housed in some of the most beautiful houses in Britain. It is also a learned book: the bibliography runs to 862 items (fourteen of them earlier publications by Purcell himself), and an additional seventy-five sales catalogues; the endnotes run to 1187. The volume would be equally at home on the coffee table or the bookshelf.No one is better qualified to write on this topic than Mark Purcell, who for over fifteen years (1999-2015) was the National Trust Libraries Curator. More than anyone else he was responsible, through implementing digital cataloguing and facilitating public access, for bringing the NT’s extraordinary and widely scattered collection of books (over 300,000 of them) into the light of day and the esteem they deserve. His knowledge goes well beyond NT libraries: where private libraries were willing to own up to their contents, he has included them in his survey.His historical sweep takes us from Roman Britain into the present century. Determined, perhaps, to talk of round two thousand years of collecting, the section on Roman Britain has to work hard, over hard, on coming up with validating evidence. The evidence for libraries, collections and collectors then gradually become increasingly dense and rich, until we enter the 18th century which crests with the extravagance and competitiveness of bibliomania at the beginning of the 19th century. The supply of books to wealthy collectors at that period was fed by the effects of the French Revolution: huge quantities of books were released into the market place from the collections of the French aristocracy and religious houses. But within a century the tables were being turned, as for a host of reasons (among them the fall in landed income from agriculture, the spread of democratic representation, two world wars, increasing taxation, and Irish independence), British and Irish collectors saw their books sold up and dispersed, most dramatically to a new set of American collectors. However, much still remains today within the gracious settings of historic country houses.Purcell burrows into his subject from many angles. He not only tracks major and minor collectors, and collections large and small over many centuries, he traces the historical changes in practices associated with libraries and books: how, for examples, books were actually places on shelves; the introduction of labelling; the evolving differences between a closet, a study and a library; the appearance of bookshelves; the difference between collecting and mere consumption; and the distinction between a town and a country library, to name only some of his topics. The evidence and illustrations he adduces for his story (all those endnotes) can sometimes approach the tedious, so many platoons of examples and citations in endless march pasts. They call on his skill in verbal transition to get the platoons to wheel in a new direction, but often the stylistic pivots within the text are merely verbal rather than substantive. A transitional phrase like “Not far away” (p. 275) inclines one to ask whether it would have made much difference if the new site about to be mentioned has been a long way away; or whether the argument about a site being “Many miles to the north” (p. 276) would have been materially altered if the phrase had read “Not many miles to the north.” These moments of intellectual slackness are rare and probably unimportant. The prevailing texture of Purcell’s writing is concise, lucid, and with touches of wry humor (Dibdin is “librarian and bibliographical fixer“ to Earl Spencer, p. 166; the nouveaux riches felt they needed “a slice of the country house cake” p. 232). The scholarship is impeccable, with only one slight wobble of indecision which occurs over the date of the first privately printed library catalogue of a private library: on page p. 110 it is given as 1727, on p. 185 as 1726, and then, as if acknowledging the doubts, as [?1727] on p. 290, Figure 232.Three questions suggest themselves from Purcell’s arguments, the first on the shelving of books. In most historic country houses broken shelving conforms to the architectural and decorative style of the rooms, and by extension the houses, in which they find themselves, so we have the elegance of the neo-classic and Palladian, the pointed arches of the neo-Gothic, the massive load of the neo-Norman, and so forth. The attention is on the shelving as furniture, the books acting as space-fillers. But there are plenty of examples, especially more recently, of books lined up on undecorated, unbroken running shelving. Running shelving is simply functional: it is there for the sake of the books, not the other way around; it does not distract attention away from what it is carrying.Why keep all these valuable books in situ? Why not put hm all into well staffed, well protected, professional libraries where the general public might have far easier ad more comfortable access to them? Purcell puts a good deal of energy into arguing for the books in the houses he surveys being kept where they are. He argues that the aggregate body of books in an historic collection can embody distinct structures of knowledge and sensibility, reveal the manner in which such knowledge circulated, and together with all else in their setting constitute an integral cultural phenomenon. Any counter argument leads to a slippery slope: if you moved the books, why not, for example, the paintings? Best to keep everything as it was and is. These arguments can seem attenuated and, at heart, an argument for the maintenance of fossilized cultural privilege. What exactly is gained, one might ask, by studying books in an historic library in a country house where they might have lain for hundreds of years? If one sits studying a book, for example, in the magnificent library at Tatton Park, wrapped in extra clothing (it is winter and there is no heating), amidst the splendid Gillow furniture, the imposing brass grilled bookcases (containing 8000 books), on top of which sits rare Delft china, near to the antique globes and the stands for over-sized books, by walls hung with family portraits, with a view through the windows of the expansive estate domain beyond, perhaps whimsically fancying oneself a member of the noble Egerton family, is one’s engagement with the book enhanced or undermined? There is a good reason modern libraries are plain, simple and climate controlled.The question Mark Purcell received most often from visitors to NT libraries was along the lines of “Did they really read all these books?” Working with a paucity of evidence (annotating books, common in early modern Europe, went out of fashion; later collectors washed their books to remove all traces of annotation), Purcell conveys his own impression that more often than not books in historic libraries were indeed read by their owners. It would, of course, be embarrassing to admit that most books were merely expensive library dressing, so many consumer items playing a role in the purchaser’s self-aggrandizement. Further, one can hardly expect someone who buys books to admit that they do not read them. But why not? A recent article in Inc. gives a new twist to the old argument that the true proof of wisdom is the admission of one‘s ignorance. What greater display of intellectual modesty and truth could there be than admitting one has not read all the books in one’s collection, that one’s collection is more aspiration than achievement? But this piece of modern moral whimsy comes too late for most of the collectors in Purcell’s book. Meanwhile, Purcell’s book certainly deserves to be read, whether kept on a coffee-table or a book shelf.

I have NEVER been as disappointed in a book as I was with this. I am fortunate to own approximately 10,000 volumes, many of them leather, and have always been in love with English Country House libraries. From the title, one would think there would be fabulous photos of said libraries in this book. Unfortunately, photos seem to be an afterthought here. The photos that managed to make it are just second rate. For example, the white library at Petsworth (which is actually very colorful) is represented with a 3x5 black and white photo. This is not an anomaly--many of the photos are very small and black and white. Princess Diana's ancestral home has a small black and white photo of the magnificent library there. There is not even a photo of the breathtaking Sledmere, (addendum--I found one 3x5 drawing of Sledmere, which is a shame, since this library is truly magnificent), Saltram, Badminton or Blenheim libraries-- but thanks for the page and a half color photo of Newhailes library denuded of books. There are two of the same color photos of the library at Chatsworth. This is a large library--why wasn't a different angle included to show the magnificent library tables? Another problem I have with the book is most photos are taken of a just very small part of these large, magnificent libraries. For example, the photos of the library at Houghton are 2 full pages and in color, but only shows a very small part of this magnificent Palladian masterpiece. Admittedly, the library IS small for a country house, but it is truly a gem. I could go on and on with the very serious flaws in this book, but suffice it to say I wouldn't recommend this and don't waste your money. Buy instead The Most Beautiful Libraries in the World, or justgoogle English Country House Libraries and see photos that are many times better that those in this book.

I'm a bibliophile and this book is enviable to me.Thank-you, Rahn

This is a beautiful coffee table book. It is also a great historical read. I would suggest that anyone that loves books and a library purchase this book. I love it.

Terrific book on personal libraries, book collecting history, and bibliomania.

Great book! Very informative and a serious study of the topic.Great visit to many famous libraries

A wonderful book about a variety of historic libraries beautifully illustrated. Nice way to get lost for hours.

Loved Purcell's previous books. This one, not so much. Not enough photos to do the subject justice.

I dismissed the critical reviews of this book, thinking them petty and too concerned with pretty pictures. However upon reading the book from cover to cover I can understand their points (only a fraction of the libraries mentioned are shown, a lot using small archive/ stock photos in black and white). Funnily enough Tatton library is mentioned many times throughout the book, but not one single image is ever shown (it's a good thing I still have the guidebook from when I visited the place).Other images include title pages of random books, building plans of mansions, exteriors of buildings and portraits of nobles, rather than actual library rooms. It would be accurate to say that 80% of the information consists of biographies of rich gentlemen who owned libraries - endless lists of dates and names of Charles, Henrys and Richards, Earls, Dukes and Marquis so and so, their lives and other mind numbingly irrelevant details such as taxes, family disputes, sales of books and or libraries and how much the cost.I'm sure someone considers this inane minutiae fascinating, perhaps a handful of niche scholars, but the vast majority of the curious public is probably like myself; more interested in how a library is put together, the furniture and design, how it was used, who read, what kinds of books they read back in the day, for what purpose, their thoughts and feelings while relaxing there. These nuggets of information can be found scattered throughout the book, the only problem is having to wade through a thick sea of stale text and occasional hints of snobbery from the author in order to get to the interesting tidbits.In contrast to the other glowing reviews and choice selection of the illustrated pages, I have also included pictures of less interesting ones for the prospective buyer to make an informed decision. I would personally describe this as a model library book for a bookish layman. Worth perusing for short term interest, but is overly padded and too academic to necessarily keep in the house.

Very disappointed in the book!The subject matter is well researched but the illustrations are dreadful!I don't know if it's anything to do with the reproduction but they are far too dark and uninspiring!I see far better illustrations of libraries in stately home and larger houses on Pinterest!I would have returned the book but I'd recycled the packaging

Wonderful photos and design inspiration, probably more suited to top-end budgets unless you know a very reasonable and skilled carpenter/joiner. A pleasure to read.

It can be used either as reference or as an interesting read. Excellent details of how country libraries were developed and owned with details of the houses where they are sited.

Wonderful book. Eminently readable and beautifully produced.