Dark Archives: A Librarian's Investigation Into the Science and History of Books Bound in Human Skin
Who Would Like This Book:
You'll be drawn into a world you probably never imagined existed: books bound in human skin, explored through both science and stories. Megan Rosenbloom's curiosity is infectious, and she has a talent for making medical history, rare books, and forensic science come alive in a way that's accessible and surprisingly not as gruesome as you'd expect. If you're fascinated by the macabre, quirky corners of history, or love true crime, medical history, or unusual nonfiction, this one is for you.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers might find the author’s personal involvement a little too front-and-center, as Rosenbloom often shares her own experiences and opinions. There’s also a significant focus on ethics, the history of medical consent, and scientific methods, which may feel repetitive or distract from the stories about the actual books for those just hoping for creepy tales or a strictly academic treatment. And those looking for a morbid scare might be surprised by its thoughtful - even scholarly - tone.
About:
In 'Dark Archives: A Librarian's Investigation Into the Science and History of Books Bound in Human Skin' by Megan Rosenbloom, the author delves into the intriguing world of books bound in human skin, known as anthropodermic bibliopegy. Through her research, Rosenbloom explores not only the history and science behind these macabre artifacts but also delves into broader themes such as medical ethics, human rights, and the ownership of bodies. Readers are taken on a journey through libraries and collections, uncovering the stories behind these unique bindings and the individuals involved in their creation, all presented in a detailed and informative yet accessible writing style.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book contains content warnings related to medical ethics, discussions of cadavers, and the use of human remains in bookbinding.
From The Publisher:
On bookshelves around the world, surrounded by ordinary books bound in paper and leather, rest other volumes of a distinctly strange and grisly sort: those bound in human skin. Would you know one if you held it in your hand?
In Dark Archives, Megan Rosenbloom seeks out the historic and scientific truths behind anthropodermic bibliopegy-the practice of binding books in this most intimate covering. Dozens of such books live on in the world's most famous libraries and museums. Dark Archives exhumes their origins and brings to life the doctors, murderers, and indigents whose lives are sewn together in this disquieting collection. Along the way, Rosenbloom tells the story of how her team of scientists, curators, and librarians test rumored anthropodermic books, untangling the myths around their creation and reckoning with the ethics of their custodianship.
A librarian and journalist, Rosenbloom is a member of The Order of the Good Death and a cofounder of their Death Salon, a community that encourages conversations, scholarship, and art about mortality and mourning. In Dark Archives-captivating and macabre in all the right ways-she has crafted a narrative that is equal parts detective work, academic intrigue, history, and medical curiosity: a book as rare and thrilling as its subject.
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About the Author:
Megan Rosenbloom is a librarian with a research interest in the history of medicine and rare books. Formerly a medical librarian and journalist, she is now the collection strategies librarian at UCLA Library in Los Angeles. She is also the president of the Southern California Society for the History of Medicine. She is a member of the Anthropodermic Book Project, a multidisciplinary team scientifically testing alleged human skin books around the world to verify their human origin. A proponent of the death-positive movement, she was also the cofounder and director of Death Salon, the events arm of the Order of the Good Death.
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