The Madman's Library: The Strangest Books, Manuscripts and Other Literary Curiosities from History

The Madman's Library: The Strangest Books, Manuscripts and Other Literary Curiosities from History 

by Edward Brooke-Hitching 

Language: English 

London: Simon & Schuster, 2022. 

255 pages : illustrations (chiefly colour) ; 26 cm. 

ISBN: 9781398503571, 1398503576 

Summary: This is a madman's library of eccentric and extraordinary volumes from around the world, many of which have been completely forgotten. Books written in blood and books that kill, books of the insane and books that hoaxed the globe, books invisible to the naked eye and books so long they could destroy the Universe, books worn into battle, books of code and cypher whose secrets remain undiscovered... and a few others that are just plain weird. From the 605-page Qur'an written in the blood of Saddam Hussein, through the gorgeously decorated 15th-century lawsuit filed by the Devil against Jesus, to the lost art of binding books with human skin, every strand of strangeness imaginable (and many inconceivable) has been unearthed and bound together for a unique and richly illustrated collection ideal for every book-lover.

Reviews: Journal of the Australian Library & Information Association; Library Journal

The Sky Atlas: The Greatest Maps, Myths, and Discoveries of the Universe

The Sky Atlas: The Greatest Maps, Myths, and Discoveries of the Universe 

by Edward Brooke-Hitching 

Language: English 

San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2020. 

255 pages : illustrations (chiefly color), charts (some color), facsimiles (chiefly color), maps (chiefly color) ; 26 cm. 

ISBN: 9781797201184, 1797201182 

Summary: "THE SKY ATLAS assembles some of the most beautiful maps and charts ever created to understand the skies above us. This richly illustrated treasury showcases the finest examples of celestial cartography-a glorious art often overlooked by modern map books-as well as medieval manuscripts, masterpiece paintings, ancient star catalogues, antique instruments, and other curiosities. This is the sky as it has never been presented before: the realm of stars and planets, but also of gods, devils, weather wizards, flying sailors, ancient aliens, mythological animals, and rampaging spirits. Here are the crystal cosmos of the ancient Greeks; the medieval sea, sailed by ships above the clouds; Tibetan sky burials; secret messages hidden in starlight, and much more. With thrilling stories and gorgeous artwork, this remarkable atlas explores our fascination with the sky across time and cultures to form an extraordinary chronicle of cosmic imagination and discovery"-- Provided by publisher

Reviews: Library Journal; Booklist