Collecting: An Unruly Passion

This is a psychological examination of the emotional sources of the human passion for collecting. The author discusses the eccentricities of heads of state, literary figures and artists, all possessed by an obsession for collecting everything from rare books to bric-a-brac.

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From rare books, valuable sculpture and paintings, the relics of saints, porcelain and other objets d'art, to stamps, textiles, military ribbons and shells, an amazing variety of objects have engaged and even obsessed collectors through the ages. This is a psychological examination of the emotional sources of the never-ending longing for yet another collectible. The author discusses the eccentricities of heads of state, literary figures, artists and psychoanalytic patients, all possessed by a need for relief from despair and helplessness. The central part of the work explores in detail the personal circumstances and life history of three individuals: a contemporary collector, Martin G., the celebrated British book and manuscript collector Sir Thomas Phillipps, who wanted one copy of every book in the world, and the great French novelist Honore de Balzac, a compulsive collector of bric-a-brac.