Lunacy and the Arrangement of Books

A humorous and poignant essay of the idiosyncrasies of book arrangements by collectors over the centuries. Professor Belanger treats the reader to some of the idiotic methods of categorizing and shelving books.

One gem from an etiquette book of 1863 decreed that a perfect hostess will see to it that the works of male and female authors be properly segregated on her book shelves. Their proximity, unless they happen to be married, should not be tolerated. Balanger, founder of the Books Arts Press, is the University Professor and Honorary Curator of Special Collections at the University of Virginia.