The Study

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Exploring the Renaissance studiolo, Andrew Hui examines how personal libraries served as sanctuaries during tumultuous times, fostering self-cultivation while also posing risks to the soul. Through insightful analyses of literary and visual works, he highlights the intimate studies created by humanists like Petrarch and Montaigne, alongside the darker consequences of solitary reading depicted in works by Cervantes and Shakespeare. The book also reflects on contemporary reading habits, enriched by perspectives from diverse book cultures, making it a profound commentary on bibliophilia and bibliomania.