The Library at Night

"Alberto Manguel has brought out a richly enjoyable book, absolutely enthralling for anyone who loves to read and an inspiration for anybody who has ever dreamed of building a library of his or her own."—Michael Dirda, Washington Post Book World

"A remarkable book—remarkable above all for its openness to the possibilities that books hold out, and for the passion with which it tries to instill the same attitude in its readers."—John Gross, New York Review of Books

"Crowded with memorable tales of reading as rescue, as solace, as liberation, in times of want, fear or tyranny. . . . The Library at Night revels in the physical pleasure of drifting and dipping through the Gutenberg galaxy of ink-on-paper books."—Boyd Tonkin interview with Alberto Manguel, The Independent

"Books jump out of their jackets when Manguel opens them and dance in delight as they make contact with his ingenious, voluminous brain. He is not the keeper of a silent cemetery, but a master of bibliographical revels."—Peter Conrad, The Observer

"Books jump out of their jackets when Manguel opens them and dance in delight as they make contact with his ingenious, voluminous brain. He is not the keeper of a silent cemetery, but a master of bibliographical revels."—Peter Conrad, The Observer

"Full of [Manguel’s] passion for books."—​The Bookseller

"Manguel not only writes beautifully, he is a master of the art of reading. In this wide-ranging, single-minded collection, he empowers fellow book lovers…He tempts you to explore new avenues and sends you hurrying back to old favourites."—Maggie Ferguson, Intelligent Life (The Economist)

"Manguel not only writes beautifully, he is a master of the art of reading. In this wide-ranging, single-minded collection, he empowers fellow book lovers. . . . He tempts you to explore new avenues and sends you hurrying back to old favourites."—Maggie Ferguson, Intelligent Life(The Economist)

Bronze medal winner of the 2008 Book of the Year Award in the category of Architecture, presented by ForeWord magazine

"In my personal library of imaginary places, and more specifically on the bookcases near my desk, I maintain a shelf reserved for brilliant readers. There's rarely any turnover. Borges, Calvino, Benjamin and Zweig (plus a few other steadfast patrons). With Manguel's The Library at Night, that will clearly have to change."—Allen Kurzweil, author of The Grand Complication and A Case of Curiosities