author
Richard de Bury
1287–1345
A 14th-century English bishop and statesman, he is best remembered as one of the medieval world’s great lovers of books. His Philobiblon turned that passion into a lively defense of reading, collecting, and caring for manuscripts.
1 Audiobook
The Love of Books: The Philobiblon of Richard de Bury
by Richard de Bury
About the author
Born near Bury St Edmunds in 1287, Richard de Bury became a churchman, diplomat, and royal official during the reign of Edward III. He studied at Oxford, served as tutor to the future king, and later rose to become bishop of Durham.
Alongside his public career, he earned a lasting reputation as a devoted collector of books at a time when every manuscript was precious and laboriously made by hand. He was known for seeking out volumes across England and the Continent, and for treating books not just as treasures but as tools for learning.
He is chiefly remembered for Philobiblon, completed shortly before his death in 1345. In that work, he wrote warmly and enthusiastically about the love of books, the value of study, and the proper care and organization of a library, which is why he still stands out today as one of the best-known book lovers of the Middle Ages.