Libraries (Hardcover)

~ Candida Höfer (Author), Umberto Eco (Introduction)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

For almost 30 years Candida Höfer has photographed interiors, mostly representational spaces accessible to the public, such as staircases, lobbies, reading halls or exhibition spaces. Rather than staging them, she takes their picture in the state she finds them, with great discreetness and a touch of humour.

Libraries are a book producer’s dream. Since nobody photographs libraries as beautifully as Höfer, it seemed only natural for Schirmer/Mosel to dedicate her next publication to the splendid and intimate cathedrals of knowledge across Europe and the US: the Escorial in Spain, the Whitney Museum in New York, Villa Medici in Rome, the Hamburg University library, the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris, the Museo Archeologico in Madrid, and Pierpont Morgan Library in New York, to name just a few. Almost completely devoid of people, as is Candida Höfer’s trademark, these pictures radiate a comforting serenity that is exceptional in contemporary photography.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Schirmer/Mosel (January 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3829601867
• ISBN-13: 978-3829601863
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 9.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #51,819 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The snapshot images speak for themselves in this captivating compilation, August 5, 2006

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

137 color plates distinguish Candida Hofer Libraries, beautifully capturing seats of knowledge around the world from the Pierpont Morgan Library in New York to the Bibliotheque nationale de France in Paris, the Villa Medici in Rome and others. Aside from a brief introduction, no essays intersperse the eye-catching plates, each of which takes up a whole page with a blank page opposite in a two-page spread. The snapshot images speak for themselves in this captivating compilation highly recommended for bibliophile's coffee tables and photography shelves.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I can't bring myself to spend the money.....yet, May 4, 2009

By	M. V. Hartman (Rochester, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I borrowed this book from the library to see if I was willing to spend the money on it. The answer is not quite yet. But nonetheless, it was absolutely gorgeous, and someday it will be in my collection. I'm keeping an eye out for a decent price on a used copy.

The pictures are simply beautiful, and beautifully simple. There were pictures of libraries that I could imagine myself holing up in for days, looking at books, and other libraries that I can imagine just standing in, looking around in awe, unable to read a word.

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Libraries, April 7, 2008

By	Chanley M. Mohney "Chan" (Fairfax, VAUSA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A picture is worth a thousand words! This book says so much and yet there are only a handful of words on each page identifying the library in the photo. As I was "reading" through this book, I realized that I have been in many of the cities or countries where these libraries are located. I missed some beautiful sites. For anyone who has an interest in libraries, this is a must "read." I will be giving this to my son, who is an architect. His specialty is libraries.