In Thomas Bernhard's (1943–1989) masterpiece Auslöschung, the narrator constructs a library as a tool to combat the "Stumpfsinnigkeit" of Austria's stifling, conservative culture. The first book he acquires is Novalis’s Heinrich von Ofterdingen—“von da war es noch ein langer Weg nach Bakunin und Kropotkin.” Eventually, he assembles an anarchistic "Bibliothek des bösen Geistes" that accompanies him throughout his life, enabling resistance to his conservative background.
Bernhard’s works often depict books and libraries as weapons, allowing their owners to achieve intellectual independence. Remarkably, this subversive potential is often overlooked in library history studies, which tend to portray libraries as serene spaces of contemplation, ignoring their capacity for rebellion.
The Power of Books
Gabriel Naudé (1600–1653), a French librarian, author, and bibliophile, deeply understood the power of books. In 1627, he wrote the influential treatise Advis pour dresser une bibliothèque, outlining the creation and organization of a library. At the time, Naudé worked as a librarian for Henri de Mesme II, hoping to receive carte blanche to realize his ideal library. However, De Mesme’s ambitions fell short of Naudé’s vision. Later, in the service of Cardinal Jules Mazarin, Naudé successfully implemented his plan. He built a library of 40,000 volumes that, from 1643, became partially accessible to the public.
A Universal and Pluralistic Library
Naudé envisioned a universal, public library that included dissident ideas and ephemeral works, such as controversial pamphlets—even those critical of his employer. He believed that libraries should host multiple books on any subject, ideally with contradictory viewpoints.
According to German researcher Uwe Jochum, Naudé saw libraries as spaces where intellectual disagreements and conflicts could unfold, with books serving as intellectual ammunition. Unlike Leibniz’s ideal of conflict-free harmony, Naudé’s library was an ordered chaos that reflected the diversity of society itself.
Advocating for Public Knowledge
In his treatise, Naudé encouraged bibliophiles to make their collections publicly accessible to spread knowledge. His ideals prefigured the modern scientific library, emphasizing subject-based organization and the inclusion of dissident texts, implicitly advocating for tolerance.
Influence and Legacy of Naudé’s Advis
Naudé’s Advis was highly influential, translated into multiple languages, and reprinted into the twentieth century. Dutch scholar Frans Janssen suggests that the Leiden bibliophile Johannes Thysius (1622–1653) may have drawn inspiration from Naudé when opening his library to the public.
Naudé’s vision of libraries as pluralistic and accessible spaces significantly influenced the development of modern library practices and remains a compelling argument for the power of books to challenge and inspire.
Comments