The Library of Congress, Washington DC, USA contains 28 million books and has 532 miles of shelving. The British Library in London is the second largest.
If you were driving at a constant 70 mph in a car it would take you just under 8 hours to pass them all.
I live near DC, and I haven't been there since I was a kid. Guess who just added a summer field trip with the kids to her summer plans?!
Best Selling Fiction Authors of All Time
1. William Shakespeare
2. Agatha Christie
3. Barbara Cartland
4. Danielle Steel
Best Selling Kindle Author of All Time (to date)
Suzanne Collins, greatly aided by Hunger Games.
World's Most Expensive Book
From a 12/7/10 LA Times article: Naturalist John James Audubon's "Birds of America" sold at auction in London on Tuesday for $11.5 million, making it the world's most expensive book. The book, which was sold by the auction house Sotheby's, was purchased by Micahel Tollemache, a London art dealer who was present in the room.
"Birds of America" is oversize -- more than 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide -- with 435 illustrations. When first published in 1827, the images were printed in black and white and then hand-colored by specialists.
If you could have any book-related item, and money was no object, what would you want?
My gut answer: I'd like to sit down with Judy Blume and pick her brain, along with my preteen daughter. Then I'd have her sign all the copies of her books that I still have from my teenage years.
6 comments:
I was thrilled to see Agatha Christie in the top 4! She is definitely one of my favorites. I have not read a Barbara Cartland or Danielle Steele novel, though. Of course, Shakespeare is a given.
Great facts, Tia!
The stats on the Library of Congress, are just mind-blowing! 28 million books, 532 miles of shelving, wow. And I lol when I read Danielle Steele as being one of the top selling fiction author. I've never read any of her books but she must be doing something right. I'm going to have to pick up one of her book I guess. (;
Visiting the Library of Congress is on my bucket list. One of these days...
Interesting post. Thank you.
Julie, I'm embarrassed to say I've never read Christie. *hanging my head in shame*
Elise, I've never read Danielle either.
Kathy, It's on my summer list!
What would I want... Oh my! A set of first edition Harry Potter books signed by JK :)
Those are some interesting facts you have there. 532 miles... ohhhhhh...
WRITE ON!
Wow, Jo. A first edition of Harry Potter. Priceless.
Post a Comment