BIBLIOMANIA IN FRANCE

In 19th-century France, bibliomania gripped the hearts and minds of the wealthy and intellectual elite. This passionate obsession was not about reading books but about collecting rare books, owning priceless editions, and amassing libraries that would later become legendary. For many booksmen of the era, books became more than just objects—they were symbols of power, prestige, and intellectual superiority.

Among the most famous of these bibliomaniacs was Monsieur Dupont, known as “Le Livre Fou” (The Mad Bookman). His obsession with rare books led him to create one of the most impressive private libraries in Paris. Dupont’s apartment was filled from floor to ceiling with first editions of classic French literature, ancient scrolls, and hand-written manuscripts by obscure philosophers. To Dupont, each book was a treasure, a prized possession that brought him closer to an intellectual legacy he desperately desired.

Dupont frequented the renowned book markets along the Seine River in Paris, where booksellers displayed old, dusty volumes in the open air. He was notorious for bidding astronomical sums on rare editions, with no regard for their actual content. “This one,” he would say with reverence, as he gently touched the spine of a dusty book, “is a masterpiece of the past. To own it is to own a piece of history.”

Despite his growing collection, Dupont’s obsession wasn’t shared by all. Many of his fellow bibliophiles criticized his approach. One such friend, poet Charles Lefevre, often remarked, “You collect books, but you never read them! Your library is a prison, not a sanctuary.” But Dupont paid no heed to these concerns. For him, the act of collecting books was far more satisfying than the simple pleasure of reading them.

However, as time passed, Dupont’s bibliomania began to take its toll. His obsession with collecting led him to neglect his personal health, finances, and relationships. The once-cherished books began to feel more like a burden than a triumph. Eventually, Dupont’s financial situation deteriorated, and he was forced to sell his entire collection at auction.

On the day of the auction, Dupont stood silently in the back of the room, watching strangers eagerly bid on his beloved books. His heart ached as the volumes he had once prized—his library of rare books—were sold to the highest bidder. Yet, Dupont felt no regret. His obsession had never been about reading or even appreciating the content of the books. It had always been about owning them, about the rush of acquiring what others could not.

Though bibliomania eventually faded by the late 19th century, its legacy left a lasting mark on the history of book collecting in France. The books Dupont and other bibliomaniacs hoarded became symbols of a bygone era—an era where the love of books was less about the stories within their pages and more about the desire to possess rare and valuable books. This phenomenon remains a fascinating chapter in the history of literature and the culture of book collecting.