{
    "id": 391170,
    "slug": "the-madmans-library-edward-brooke-hitching",
    "nstc": null,
    "title": "The Madman's Library",
    "subtitle": null,
    "collection_title": null,
    "collection_part_number": null,
    "annotation": null,
    "description": "This fascinating and bizarre collection compiles the most unusual, obscure books from the far reaches of the human imagination throughout history. \n\nFrom the author of the critically acclaimed bestsellers The Phantom Atlas and The Sky Atlas comes a unique and beautifully illustrated journey through the history of literature. The Madman\u2019s Library delves into its darkest territories to hunt down the oddest books and manuscripts ever written, uncovering the intriguing stories behind their creation. \n\nFrom the Qur\u2019an written in the blood of Saddam Hussein, to the gorgeously decorated fifteenth-century lawsuit filed by the Devil against Jesus, to the most enormous book ever created, The Madman\u2019s Library features many long forgotten, eccentric, and extraordinary volumes gathered from around the world. \n\nBooks written in blood and books that kill, books of the insane and books that hoaxed the globe, books invisible to the naked eye and books so long they could destroy the Universe, books worn into battle and books of code and cypher whose secrets remain undiscovered. Spell books, alchemist scrolls, wearable books, edible books, books to summon demons, books written by ghosts, and more all come together in the most curiously strange library imaginable. \n\nFeaturing hundreds of remarkable images and packed with entertaining facts and stories to discover, The Madman\u2019s Library is a captivating compendium perfect for bibliophiles, literature enthusiasts, and collectors intrigued by bizarre oddities, obscure history, and the macabre.\n\n\n\u2022MUST-HAVE FOR BOOKLOVERS: Anyone who appreciates a good read will love delving into this weird world of books and adding this collection to their own bookshelf. \n\u2022DISCOVER SOMETHING TRULY UNIQUE: The Madman\u2019s Library will let you in on the secret and obscure histories of the strangest books ever made.\n\u2022EXPERT AUTHOR: Edward Brooke-Hitching is the son of an antiquarian book dealer, a lifelong rare book collector, and a master of taking visual deep dives into unusual historical subjects, such as the maps of imaginary geography in The Phantom Atlas or ancient pathways through the stars in The Sky Atlas. ",
    "imprint": null,
    "language_code": "eng",
    "original_language_code": null,
    "page_count": 256,
    "duration_seconds": null,
    "publication_date_first": null,
    "publication_date_latest": "2021-04-06",
    "cover_url": null,
    "editions": [],
    "ratings_count": 0,
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    "rating_average": null,
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    "created_at": "2025-09-19T13:37:16+00:00",
    "updated_at": "2025-10-27T00:31:26+00:00",
    "publisher": {
        "id": 19,
        "slug": "chronicle-books-llc-chronicle-publishing-co",
        "name": "CHRONICLE BOOKS LLC CHRONICLE PUBLISHING CO",
        "created_at": "2025-09-19T12:25:20+00:00",
        "updated_at": "2025-09-19T15:12:18+00:00"
    },
    "contributors": [],
    "genres": [],
    "subjects": []
}