Book Description

Excerpt from Ex Libris Carissimis Because what interests me is the actual impact of a book upon the mind, and anything in the nature of fantastic or frolic decoration, or excessive bulk, or slovenly editing, Persian ornament of any sort, interferes with the intrinsic purport of the Work. In number I 58 of the famous Tatler, you will find a delicious ironic character-sketch written by Addison of a gentleman whom he describes as a book collector and broker in learning, Tom Folio. And so that it may be textual in the record, I want to read you two or three lines from that essay. Addison ironically describes Tom Folioz He is a universal scholar, so far as the title page, of all authors. He has a greater esteem for Aldus and Elzevir than for Virgil and Horace. He thinks he gives you an account of an author when he tells you the subject he treats of, the name of the editor, and the year in which it was printed. Or, if you draw him into further particulars, he cries up the goodness of the paper, extols the diligence of the corrector, and is transported with the beauty of the letter. This he looks upon to be sound learning and substantial criticism. (you will not have missed Addison's sly suggestion of a pun, Tom Folio and tomfoolery.) About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.