The book burnings in these chapters really struck me as a powerful symbol of a society in crisis. It begins with the destruction of the Talmud, but quickly escalates—intolerance breeds more intolerance until people are burning all kinds of books, often without knowing why (p.621–623). It shows how dangerous it is when a society tries to control ideas instead of engaging with them. The Talmud, for example, is described both as “mendacious and pernicious” (p.624) and as a book that asks hard questions (p.625), showing how texts can be both feared and revered. I was also struck by the contrast with Nahman, who knows many religious books by heart but has no knowledge of geography, astronomy, or philosophy outside his tradition (p.503)—a sign of how book burning and censorship keep people insular.
I can remember reading parts of The Boy in Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne to a class of children and them being utterly taken with the big fire and the excitement of flames and burning and then discussing what they would take out to throw on the fire. Anything but books because it was all about the fire. One child did say that now you could find the book online so you didn't need a physical copy but the cultural damage, fear and lack of understanding about the power of words and ideas were beyond their comprehension at that point.
I was very struck in Black Butterflies by Priscilla Morris where the library and archives are burned in Sarajevo - the black butterflies being the burnt pieces of paper floating around the city for days after the fire that burned them. It is such a symbolic act to burn books but also, I think, a hatred that strikes deep. The desire to erase you culturally, your history and your art. Some of the very things that make us human.
The book burnings in these chapters really struck me as a powerful symbol of a society in crisis. It begins with the destruction of the Talmud, but quickly escalates—intolerance breeds more intolerance until people are burning all kinds of books, often without knowing why (p.621–623). It shows how dangerous it is when a society tries to control ideas instead of engaging with them. The Talmud, for example, is described both as “mendacious and pernicious” (p.624) and as a book that asks hard questions (p.625), showing how texts can be both feared and revered. I was also struck by the contrast with Nahman, who knows many religious books by heart but has no knowledge of geography, astronomy, or philosophy outside his tradition (p.503)—a sign of how book burning and censorship keep people insular.
I can remember reading parts of The Boy in Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne to a class of children and them being utterly taken with the big fire and the excitement of flames and burning and then discussing what they would take out to throw on the fire. Anything but books because it was all about the fire. One child did say that now you could find the book online so you didn't need a physical copy but the cultural damage, fear and lack of understanding about the power of words and ideas were beyond their comprehension at that point.
I was very struck in Black Butterflies by Priscilla Morris where the library and archives are burned in Sarajevo - the black butterflies being the burnt pieces of paper floating around the city for days after the fire that burned them. It is such a symbolic act to burn books but also, I think, a hatred that strikes deep. The desire to erase you culturally, your history and your art. Some of the very things that make us human.
"Black Butterflies" by Priscilla Morris sounds like a very interesting book I will have to look out for it.