The Logogryph: A Bibliography of Imaginary Books - Thomas Wharton.I've been intrigued by the idea of this book ever since I stumbled onto it by subtitle: A bibliography of imaginary books.
The Logogryph: A Bibliography of Imaginary Books - Thomas Wharton.
I've been intrigued by the idea of this book ever since I stumbled onto it by subtitle: A bibliography of imaginary books.
As an out of print title, the laws of supply and demand turn at a whim - I initially wishlisted the book when it was listed for over $250. I kept watching and stuck it in my cart when a copy appeared for $10; when I bought it, it had gone down to $4, and as of this review, the lowest price is a little over $33. I can't tell you how much to pay for it, but it's an object worth desiring for the production as well as the content.
The book itself is tiny - just a little larger than my facsimile of The Master of Mary of Burgundy. It has a full wraparound slipcover with the front image and jacket copy stamped in black on brown heavy paper. Inside, the tiny volume is bound in a blue patterned paper, with a full cream colored dust jacket. This is a beautiful object.
The book itself is not so much a bibliography as several fragmented stories within the framework of discovery - fans of Calvino and Borges will find much to delight in here. Scattered within the chapters are tiny monochrome stamps that match each chapter's content, which ranges from the family of an English country house, to dreamers of Atlantis, and the tale of a man who steps out of a book with no history. When all is said and done, the Logogryph has more questions than answers, but they're delightful questions. This a book to read quickly, and then pore over, with intent to savor.
Twisted Librarian
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