The Architecture of Bibliophilia

Libraries were a new building type in Ottoman architecture at the beginning of the eighteenth century. However, they quickly gained a considerable place among the endowments of Ottoman elite. This book explores the architectural, social and cultural dynamics that shaped the Ottoman library movement in Istanbul during the eighteenth century. It shows how the plans, decorative elements, book collections, staff and patrons of these libraries embodied the remarkable transformations of Ottoman society – notably the swelling of bureaucratic ranks, rising demand for historical and literary works, and a culture of celebrating novelty. The book uses public libraries as a lens to examine these transformations, demonstrating how libraries both reflected and shaped the aesthetic, intellectual and cultural pursuits of the Ottoman reading public. Offering the first comprehensive history of the Ottoman library movement, it reveals the dynamism of Ottoman architecture in this post-classical period.