First EditionBenjamin D'Israeli was of the opinion that he was born in a library. The library was reputed to have held about 25,000 volumes, and belonged to his father, Issac D'Israeli, a prolific and popular auther of fiction poems and historical subjects. Over his lifetime, D'Israeli had much to say about books, and the essays in this volume demonstrate his "honest desire of giving useful pleasure", as well as his conviction that books form the character of civilization. This is a fascinating read on a topic which is absorbing and though-provoking for an bibliophile. Includes major sections on 1. Writing and Reading, 2. Printing and Publishing 3. Books, 4. Authors & Co., 5. Preservation and Destruction, 6. Property and Politics, 7. Libraries. Includes a biography of D'Israeli by the editor at the beginning. Co-published with the British Library.