Sunday Read: From The Library Book: “The Defence of the Book” by Julian Barnes
In honour of National Libraries Day, celebrated yesterday in the UK, Profile Books has released The Library Book, a collection of essays and short stories by well-known writers who reflect on the importance of libraries. All profits from the book go to supporting the The Reading Agency‘s library and reading programmes.
On of the contributors to the collection is Julian Barnes, winner of the 2011 Man Booker Prize for The Sense of an Ending. In his story, “The Defence of the Book”, Barnes builds on his satirical novel, England, England – which was shortlisted for the 1998 Booker Prize – imagining the impact of all libraries being closed down.
Barnes is joined in the illustrious anthology by Stephen Fry, Zadie Smith, China Mieville, Alan Bennett, and more.
Read “The Defence of the Book” below, courtesy The Guardian:
The first signs had been misleading, and greeted by some islanders with delight. After Scotland and Wales had left the Union, and Northern Ireland been reunited with the Republic, Europe lost patience with the sulky rump that remained. Decades of carping from the sidelines, while constantly demanding special favours and the repatriation of powers, were finally repaid. Germany and France, strongly backed by Europe’s newest Celtic adherents, led a swift campaign to evict England. “At last,” as the 93-year-old European President-for-Life, Angela Merkel, put it, “we are repatriating to you your powers, and not just the ones you asked for, but all the other ones as well.”
There was much excitement, as the country, having become smaller and less influential, had also become more xenophobic. The Daily Mail which, after the demise of the Times, was widely referred to as “the newspaper of record”, funded street parties and firework displays. But the euphoria was brief. Europe, not content just to evict England, also wanted to bring her low. Subtle and sometimes unsubtle trade barriers were raised; appeals to international organisations against such tariffs failed. The United States had long been looking westward, and now tended to regard England as an embarrassing ancestor, and a case for humane termination.
Book details
- The Library Book by The Reading Agency
Book homepage
EAN: 9781781250051
Find this book with BOOK Finder!
- The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
EAN: 9780224094153
Find this book with BOOK Finder!
- England, England by Julian Barnes
EAN: 9780099526544
Find this book with BOOK Finder!
Photo courtesy The Guardian
Apr
Please register or log in to comment