Melville House Books

Followers of international politics who have noted the current political turmoil in the Philippines may take in interest in a story from the Manila Bulletin, which notes what might be at the root of the country’s recent woes: “Of all the items in the national budget, that of libraries is the most niggardly.” The article, written by an anonymous former government official, says, “As I recall, during my stint with government, every time ‘austerity’ was announced, the first cut was on the purchase of books.” Says the writer, “This brings to mind the proud assertion of the pompous rector of Universidad de Cervera to Ferdinand VII of Spain (quoted by Isabel Allende in her novel Zorro): ‘The last thing we espouse is the unfortunate mania for thinking.’ On the part of our leaders, they do not espouse the unfortunate mania for reading.”

Dennis Johnson is the founder of MobyLives, and the co-founder and co-publisher of Melville House.