The London Library

"The end of law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedom". The "Father of Liberalism" - philosopher and physician #JohnLocke - was born #OTD 1632. Time to tuck into our early editions of his hugely influential "On Government" and "Human Understanding".

Poet Laureate #JohnBetjeman was born #onthisday 1906. In 1958 he auctioned the manuscript of his poem "A Subaltern's Love Song" to raise funds for The London Library
"Miss J. Hunter Dunn, Miss J. Hunter Dunn, Furnish'd and burnish'd by Aldershot sun ...."

Great #preRaphaelite artist and designer #EdwardBurneJones was born #onthisday 1833. He worked for many years in partnership with #WilliamMorris, and like Morris, was also a member of The London Library!

Prince Albert was born #onthisday 1819. Here The illustrated London News features the firework celebrations in 1843 for his 24th birthday. Two years' later, he donated £50 to The London Library and became our first Patron. #Wecantbeboughtcheaply #CashForHonours

Scottish novelist, historian, and politician #JohnBuchan was born #onthisday 1875. Always nice when a member of The London Library is, like Buchan, made Governor-General of Canada, but seems to happen so rarely. Oh well, here's our 1915 copy of his masterpiece published that year.

.The London Library will be closed throughout the Summer Bank Holiday weekend from Sat 25th August to Mon 27th August inclusive. Our online services will all be available throughout. We open our doors for business as usual on Tuesday 28th August. Happy holidays everyone!

Illustrator and author #AubreyBeardsley was born in Brighton #onthisday 1872. His famous illustrations for #OscarWilde's "Salome" appeared in 1894, a year before Beardsley joined The London Library

Flicking through our extensive collection of Hansard Parliamentary Debates. #Onthisday 1940, #WinstonChurchill (who first joined The London Library in 1933 and became one of its Vice-Presidents after the war) gave this - his famous "Never in the field of human conflict" wartime speech

#OTD 1858, the theory of #evolution got its first public airing when The London Library member #CharlesDarwin and #AlfredRusselWallace (who joined in 1863) presented their similar theories to the The Linnean Society. #OriginofSpecies was published 15 months later. Here's our 1st edition.

#GeorgeOrwell's "Animal Farm" (subtitled "A Fairy Story") was first published #onthisday 1945. Here's our 1945 copy with his chilling warning to a postwar world.

Archaeologist, military officer, diplomat, and writer #TELawrence was born #OTD 1888. "Seven Pillars of Wisdom" - his classic account of the 1916-18 Arab Revolt - established his reputation for daring, reckless adventure. We assume he joined The London Library for more of the same.

Essayist #ThomasdeQuincey was born #onthisday 1785. "Confessions of an Opium-Eater", his 1821 chronicle of addiction, ensured his lasting renown.

Scottish novelist, playwright and poet Sir #WalterScott, was born #onthisday 1771. With 296 copies of his work on the shelves it looks like we've got rather a full day ahead of us. #lovereadinghistoricalnovelsallday #couldbehereallnight

“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment.” ‘Walden’ - the great classic of wilderness and nature by Henry David #Thoreau - was first published #onthisday 1854.

And for those of you whose want a virtual tour of @TheLondonLib for #BookLoversDay, here’s a look inside. For the full tour, click here: http://ow.ly/Tnqj30liYhH

And here’s where books get written and thoughts get thought. We peek inside the Writer’s Room @TheLondonLib to help celebrate the power of books on #BookLoversDay.

Our tour takes us to the lovely Art Room, housing 25,000 of our 75,000 works on art. Designed by the architects who did the Ritz; opened by #StanleyBaldwin in 1934; bombed in 1944; then a RIBA-award winner for refurbishment in 2010. A great place to celebrate #BookLoversDay

We move on to the Literature Stacks - works of genius in 25 languages. #VirginiaWoolf to #Voltaire; #Ovid to #Puskin; #Chaucer to #HaroldPinter. Love books! #BookLoversDay

i like to read more books on be have of Good knowledge

This oasis of civilisation has a fantastic range of books and information. Most importantly it is a library, a place of learning, somewhere to be able to write yr own works of desires but it is not a glorified community centre as so many libraries are being turned into nowadays. Classic architecture and good fittings mean the soul is uplifted and there is somewhere in the world people can just think and help progress civilisation.

The places of knowledge does not need to give it a note or just notice it is places that gives us the pleasure of living in a universe or traveling without obstacles

The best place to learn concerning U.K.

Such a special place and truly wonderful experience to be surrounded by so much knowledge.

One of my favourite places in London, the Library is the perfect place to write with full access to any title you might need for research.

No doubt helped by my personal guide - Georgina Ralston, I was enchanted and literally blown away at the collection, beauty, and tranquility of this amazing charitable institution. I highly recommend it to any lover of books.

My - and many others' - fond second home in London, when I'm there. Endless books, quiet nooks for writing, and espressochoc. I sincerely do not know what else is required for life.

Just the best place to read, make notes and even bump into scions of the literary world but ssssh never point or chat up...it's not done!!!!

Fab place! My idea of heaven - books floor to ceiling!

Everything a library should be. Helpful, welcoming and passionate in wanting to pass on information. Travelled a long way from the Outer Hebrides to get there and it was worth it. Thank you.

An amazing resource, including a generous selection of on-line material that members can access both in the library and at home etc.

Absolutely stunning. Perfect place to unwind, read, and get away from the loud city (yet located in the centre of it all)

A wonderful place, where books and members are cherished!

:V ... (((((( #YES !!!))))),...

#Books bring #Smiles " ʚ(◠‿◠)ɞ ,........

"#KEEP #CALM !

.......... & ..............

#CARPE #DIEM !!!". ~ 8| .

:V ... #Memo : ....

" #They impart #Knowledge.

#They #Entertain.

:V ... In other #Words !!!, ....

#They #DO All the things that #Only #Books #Can #Do.

#They CHANGE LIVES (y) ".

~ #Capish !! : Le vrai pouvoir, c'est la connaissance (^^^) .

* * * * * : ((((( <3 ))))) / :-) / O:) / (Y) .