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In commemoration of Kristallnacht Richard Ovenden OBE will speak about his recent book
Burning the Books: A History of Knowledge under Attack

Richard Ovenden is Bodley’s Librarian (senior executive of the Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford). His former positions include the House of Lords Library and the National Library of Scotland. He is a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and of the Royal Society of Arts.

His book takes us on a historical journey from the ancient libraries of Ashurbanipal and Alexandria, through to the Nazi burning of books and contemporary threats to knowledge. It is a powerful and timely reminder of why, in the interests of truth, knowledge must be preserved.