Bibliomania in the Middle Ages is F. Somner Merryweather’s affectionate survey of the love of books during the medieval centuries. Drawing on monastic records, chronicles, and library catalogues, it follows the labours of scribes and illuminators, the founding of cathedral and abbey libraries, and the anecdotes of bishops and abbots who hoarded precious manuscripts. Merryweather writes for the Victorian bibliophile, blending scholarship with curiosity about how learning was preserved before printing.
First published in the nineteenth century, the work remains a charming introduction to the world of medieval manuscripts and their makers. Merryweather gathers stories of stolen, ransomed, and lovingly copied books, illustrating how fragile and treasured knowledge was across Europe’s Middle Ages. Readers interested in the history of libraries, monasticism, and book culture will find an entertaining and informative companion.