“In the early eighties, rare book librarian John Rathe pulled down a dusty box, wrapped in twine, from a remote corner of the Rare Book room. Attached to the box was a label that said: ‘Do not open until war is over.’ Which war? The Civil War? The War of 1812? What he discovered was a box filled with disguised anti-Nazi tracts hidden in packets of tea and shampoo and concealed in miniature books both popular and scholarly.”
In celebration of this Tuesday’s event with Chris Ware and Zadie Smith, we’ll be posting great comics throughout the day. Here is an excerpt from Ware’s latest, Building Stories. A few tickets for Tuesday evening are still available here…
ICYMI: our own Mark O’Connell reviewed Mr. Ware’s latest book.
“The proposed renovation, known as the Central Library Plan (CLP), is making scholars like me nervous, and to spell out why involves thinking about the library’s mission. Or rather, missions.”
- Caleb Crain on remodeling the New York Public Library
