Expert: Benjamin Davidson - 11/12/2010

Question
i have seen many depictions of the libraries and drawing rooms in British castles. They appeared to be filled with books shelved from floor level to ceiling; one needed a ladder to access them all.
Perhaps they were investments. Perhaps they were displays of conspicuous consumption.
My question: did anyone read these books? All of the books? If so, who?
Thank you very much.

Answer
Hello

Very sorry about the lateness of the reply, been having trouble with my email provider.

Indeed in many castles, mansions and country houses you can have vast shelves full of books. In some cases the books are fakes, to be seen to have lots of books meant you had money and gave you a kind of educated appeal. But there were also many, many real books and quite a few were read. When you think of the public standing of someone who owned a big house, he was often a lord or professor or landowner. These people had professions which were very literary orientated. Also many of the books date back to before television. So in a way reading would be a past time that was regularly taken up more than it is these days.

I hope this helps

Kind regards
Ben