LIBRARY An Unquiet History

Battles is a rare book librarian at Harvard University, so he knows his subject as he tours readers through libraries both ancient and modern. He visits important collections from Ninevah to medieval Europe, including the first public library, founded in 1444 by Cosimo de' Medici. It's an interesting history written by a scholar who wants to make the story accessible. While Grover Gardener does a perfectly fine job, reading with rhythm and measured pacing, he never quite manages an edge-of-your-seat involvement with the text. Instead he sounds professorial. One wishes sometimes for a livelier pace and more varied tone, but, all in all, a good listen. A.C.S. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/ JUL 04]