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A Noble Madness

By James Delbourgo

Product Image: A Noble Madness

A Noble Madness

Only 1 item left in stock
Description
'A magisterial rethinking of why we collect. I loved this book' Edmund de Waal 'Magnificent . . . so compulsive and entertaining' Stephen Fry 'Give it to the collector in your life, and watch sparks fly!' Cathy Gere 'A delight to read and ponder' Jackson Lears 'A tour de force of scholarship and storytelling' Daniel Weiss A captivating history of obsessive collectors: from ancient looters and idolaters to fin de siècle decadents, Freudian psychos, and hoarders. Collectors are often praised for their taste in art or contributions to science, but there can be a darker side: their passion is sometimes driven by dangerous obsession. Roman emperors who lusted after statues; Chinese scholars obsessed with rocks and flowers; fin de siècle dandies surrounded by bibelots. History is full of stories about those who love things more than people, presenting a danger either to themselves or others. In this sweeping history from antiquity to today, James Delbourgo tells the extraordinary story of the mad collector as a cultural figure from the tyrant and idolater to the sexually repressed "psycho" of the Freudian imagination and the modern-day hoarder. His conclusion is surprising: Because they are driven by passion rather than profit, obsessive collectors also have been cultural heroes, seen as authentic and true to themselves. Some may be mad, but theirs is a noble madness.
Product details
Edition:
1
Number of Pages:
304
Release Date:
2025-08-12
Publication Date:
2025-08-12
Publisher:
Quercus Publishing Plc
Languages:
Original: English
ISBN10:
1529424011
ISBN13:
9781529424010
GPSR Manufacturer Reference:
[email protected]
Weight:
608 g
Height:
159 cm
Width:
240 cm
Thickness:
29 cm
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Very good
Almost no signs of wear. Book pages have no markings, accessories are intact and all other media are in good condition.
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