Here, for the first time, architectural photographer Guillaume de Laubier takes the reader on a privileged tour of twenty-three of the world's most historic libraries, representing twelve countries and ranging from the great national monuments to scholarly, religious, and private libraries: the baroque splendor of the Institut de France in Paris; the Renaissance treasure-trove of the Riccardiana Library in Florence; the majestic Royal Monastery in El Escorial, Spain; the hallowed halls of Oxford's Bodleian Library; and the New York Public Library, a Beaux-Arts masterpiece. Also included are the smaller abbey and monastic libraries - often overlooked on tourist itineraries - each containing its own equally important collections of religious and philosophical writings, manuscripts, and church history. Through color photography one can marvel at the grandeur of the great public libraries while relishing the rare glimpses inside scholars-only private archives.

National Library of Austria, Vienna -- The Benedictine Abbey Library of Admont, Austria -- The Herzogin Anna Amalia Library, Weimar, Germany -- The Benedictine Abbey Library of Metten, Germany -- The Monastic Library at Wiblingen, Ulm, Germany -- The Vatican Library, Rome -- Riccardian Library, Florence -- The Institute Library, Paris -- The Mazarine Library, Paris -- The Senate Library, Paris -- The Cabinet des livres of the Duc d'Aumale, Chantilly, France -- The Abbey Library of Saint Gall, Switzerland -- The John Rylands Library, Manchester, England --Bodleian Library, Oxford, England -- Wren Library, Trinity College, Cambridge, England -- Trinity College Library, Dublin -- The Library of the Mafra National Palace, Portugal -- National Library, Prague -- The Library of the Royal Monastery of El Escorial, San Lorenzo del Escorial, Spain -- The Athenaeum, Boston -- The Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. -- The New York Public Library -- National Library of Russia, St. Petersburg -- Bibliography.