Alberto Manguel is a writer, translator, editor, and critic, but would rather define himself as a reader and a lover of books. From 2015 to 2018 he was the director of the National Library of Argentina. Born in Buenos Aires, he has since resided in Israel, Argentina, Europe, the South Pacific, and Canada. His previous books include The Library at Night, A Reader on Reading, and Curiosity. He now lives in New York City.
“Alberto Manguel is a kind of global Reader Laureate: he is
reading’s champion, its keenest student and the most zealous
proselytiser. . . if you value these particular pleasures already,
you may find yourself the ideal reader for Alberto Manguel.”—Daniel
Hahn, Spectator
“Packing My Library [alternates] intimate chapters that make up an
‘elegy’ for his library with 10 masterly digressions on his life as
a reader and lover of books. . . . Manguel’s intellect and
enthusiasm are on full display as he cites a dazzling number of
books in many languages, dilating on an astounding number of
topics.”—Ernest Hilbert, Wall Street Journal
“The enviably multilingual Alberto Manguel . . . reflects on his
peripatetic life in Packing My Library, . . . an excellent
[book] about books.”—Michael Dirda, Washington Post
“Books jump out of their jackets when Manguel opens them and dance
in delight as they make contact with his ingenious, voluminous
brain. He is not the keeper of a silent cemetery, but a master of
bibliographical revels.”—Peter Conrad, The Observer
“A labyrinth of intellectual thought intermittently dispersed amid
144 pages of pure literary appreciation – the likes of which, one
really doesn’t come across every day”—David Marx Book Reviews
"The area which Alberto Manguel has mapped for himself is that of
the eros of reading. . . . He is a Don Juan of libraries."—George
Steiner, The Guardian
"Manguel vaults over the traditional fences of genre, literary
history, and discipline with breathtaking virtuosity. He is the
Montaigne de nos jours and, as regards this latest effort, if they
put another rover on Mars they should call it 'Manguel.'"—John
Sutherland, University College London
"Alberto Manguel is a wanderer among books, immensely curious in
such an intriguing way that he lets his readers easily discover the
fruits of his curiosity."—Roberto Calasso
Alberto Manguel is a great reader. His entire oeuvre testifies to
this. In Packing My Library, Manguel continues his
celebration of the book as object, conduit, and talisman.
This elegy for his library, including digressions on
citizenship, dictionaries, god’s speech, and creativity, shows a
profound appreciation for the shibboleths and affinities of the
bibliophile. A joyful testament!—Jeff Deutsch, Seminary Co-op
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