Dark Archives

A Librarian's Investigation into the Science and History of Books Bound in Human Skin

Dark Archives
Megan Rosenbloom
RRP:
NZ$ 42.99
Our Price:
NZ$ 32.24
Paperback
h208 x 135mm - 288pg
19 Oct 2021 US
International import eta 7-19 days
9781250800169
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There are books out there, some shelved unwittingly next to ordinary texts, that are bound in human skin. Would you know one if you held it in your hand? In Dark Archives, Megan Rosenbloom, a medical librarian and a cofounder of the Death Salon, seeks out the historic and scientific truths behind this anthropodermic bibliopegy. Dozens of these books still sit on the shelves of the world' s most famous libraries and museums. What are their stories? Dark Archives exhumes their origins and brings to life the doctors, murderers, mental patients, beautiful women, and indigents whose lives are bound together in this rare, scattered, and disquieting collection. It also tells the story of the scientists, curators, and librarians like Rosenbloom-interested in the full complicated histories behind these dark artifacts of nineteenth-century medicine-are developing tests to discover these books and sorting through the ethics of custodianship. A whip-smart and witty writer, Rosenbloom has crafted a narrative that is equal parts detective work, academic intrigue, history, and medical curiosity. Thrilling, captivating, and macabre in all the right ways, Dark Archives encourages us to take another look at the very serious ways in which the powerful have objectified people over time-perfect for fans of Mary Roach, Lindsey Fitzharris, and the art of collecting.
[Rosenbloom' s] investigation into the past reveals much about the history of medicine . . . Wide-ranging, engagingly written, and unusual . . . [Dark Archives] will fascinate those interested in a new angle from which to consider what it means to be human and what our responsibilities are to other people . . . Essential. --Stephanie Klose, Library Journal (starred review)Fascinating . . . Rosenbloom' s conversational tone and obvious excitement at the thrill of the chase counterbalances the macabre nature of her subject . . . Lighter moments, such as a visit to an artisanal tanning facility that results in the destruction of Rosenbloom' s Keds, make her obsession with the sometimes gruesome stories behind these books relatable. This unique and well-researched account shines an intriguing light on a hidden corner of the rare books world. --Publishers Weekly"This intriguing intersection of history, science, and the macabre stems from Rosenbloom' s work as a researcher for The Anthropodermic Book Project, a team dedicated to investigating books bound in human skin. She digs deep into the origin story of these morbid artifacts . . . A unique conversation about consent, medical ethics, and legalities . . . Rosenbloom' s passion for the topic is infused in each page, making for a captivating read. " --Michelle Ross, BooklistProfoundly odd, wholly original, and utterly engrossing! If there were a Pulitzer for the category ' who knew? , ' Ms. Rosenbloom' s Dark Archives would win it hands down. --Erik Larson, author of The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the BlitzDark Archives is a gorgeous dive into the humanity and inhumanity of the people behind (and on) these strangely captivating books. Propelled by curiosity and bibliophilia, Rosenbloom travels far and wide and deep within, taking us to unimaginable places. This is a masterful work, enlightened and enlivened by Rosenbloom' s scholarship and her involvement with the death positive movement. If there were a word for the perfect pairing of author and subject and the giddy joy that pairing brings to the reader, I' d be using it right now. --Mary Roach, author of Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at WarAn international treasure hunt, fascinating medical history, high level PR nightmare, and heartrending account of the real people whose flesh was turned into curiosities by the medical professionals they trusted. --Caitlin Doughty, author of Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? : Big Questions About DeathMegan Rosenbloom is the perfect guide to a dark and sinister world populated by Victorian criminals, bodysnatchers, and dissectors--all of whom contributed to the gruesome art of binding books with human skin. --Lindsey Fitzharris, author of The Butchering Art: Joseph Lister' s Quest to Transform the Grisly World of Victorian Medicine
Megan Rosenbloom is a medical librarian who studies the history of medicine and rare books. Formerly a journalist, she now serves as associate director for Instruction Services at the Norris Medical Library of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. She is also the obituary editor of the Journal of the Medical Library Association and serves on the board of the George Dock Society for the History of Medicine. She is also the cofounder and director of the Death Salon, the event arm of the Order of the Good Death, and is a leader in the Death Positive movement.
Status: Active
ISBN-13: 9781250800169
Published: 19 Oct 2021
Published In: United States
Imprint: St Martin's Press
Publisher: St Martin's Press
Format: Paperback
Height: 208mm
Width: 135mm
Weight: 300g
Pages: 288

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