'The Secret Library' is a delightful journey through literary history, answering intriguing questions about books and their creators. Oliver Tearle takes us from Ancient Greece to the present day, revealing fascinating stories behind famous works. While it mostly focuses on English literature, it's packed with humour and easy-to-digest facts. 

With each chapter dedicated to a specific era, Tearle's witty writing style makes this book a joy to read. This book offers a quick, fun read that still manages to teach you something new about the world of books.

Highly recommended for book lovers everywhere! Whether you're a seasoned bookworm or just beginning your literary journey, 'The Secret Library' deserves a spot on your shelves. Fellow literature teachers would also find 'The Secret Library' invaluable, as it offers juicy stories to enrich their teaching.

My thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book is so interesting.

I loved reading about history through stories and books. I especially liked hearing about what Beowulf went through, there was only one manuscript for so long, I'm shocked it survived long enough to be translated.

I also enjoyed hearing more about Lewis Carol (Do-Do) and I did not previously know how W.H Smith started and frankly I am jealous because nothing like that exists anymore.

Overall this was a unique and brilliant way to look through history and I enjoyed every minute of reading it.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.Less

This was a fun read, covering the development of books and literature through history. Obviously that's a massive subject and too much to cover in any detail in one book so it's a bit of a whistle stop tour and told in a light hearted way. It's enough to give some very interesting little facts though and to whet the appetite for finding out more. Very much a book to dip in and out of rather than reading in one sitting, but well written and engaging, it's a great addition to the shelves of any book lover.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

4.25*

Thank you to NetGalley and Michael O'Mara Limited for an eARC of "The Secret Library" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

This revised edition of a 2016 release is a lighthearted wander through literary history packed with interesting literary facts and funny anecdotes. It meanders chronologically starting with ancient literature and bringing us up to date and reads like a series of vignettes making it easy to dip in and out of at your pleasure.

I really enjoyed the variety of mini essays on offer and appreciated the introductions of early women writers including Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe.

Overall, a book for booklovers that is entertaining light reading with many facts and titbits that'll make you want to pick it up multiple times without fear of having to read a full book each time.

This re-release is published on March 28th 2024

The Secret Library is a wonderful gander through the lesser-known corners of literary history written in an engaging and accessible style. The author doesn’t shy away from using humour to make facts more entertaining, It‘s a book that is perfect to dip into on a whim.

(Side note: I‘m not entirely sure if this is simply a new, revised edition of the 2016 original publication or if the changes were more significant.)