The Madman's Library cover

The Madman's Library

by Edward Brooke-Hitching

"The Madman's Library reveals the fascinating stories behind some of the strangest and most beautiful books ever created in a highly illustrated tour through an eccentric "library" of literary curiosities and wonders"-- Brooke-Hitching has hunted down the oddest books and manuscripts ever written, uncovering the intriguing stories behind their creation. From the Qur'an written in the blood of Saddam Hussein, to the gorgeously decorated fifteenth-century lawsuit filed by the Devil against Jesus, to the most enormous book ever created, his book features many long forgotten, eccentric, and extraordinary volumes gathered from around the world. Spell books, alchemist scrolls, wearable books, edible books, books written by ghosts-- these and more come together in a captivating compendium perfect for anyone intrigued by bizarre oddities, obscure history, and the macabre. -- adapted from jacket

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Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

  1. Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
  2. Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
  3. What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
  4. If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
  5. Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?