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John Young Cole
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On These Walls: Inscriptions & Quotations in the Library of Congress Paperback – October 30, 2008

by John Cole (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 23 ratings
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• Offers a unique perspective on one of the most celebrated and visited library collections in the world
• All new photography of the inscriptions and the fabulous art that adorn the Library's walls and ceilings
• Of interest to all visitors to the Library of Congress and to scholars of art and architecture

The three imposing buildings of the Library of Congress - the Thomas Jefferson Building, the John Adams Building, and the James Madison Memorial Building - are feats of architecture that hold the nation's knowledge on their shelves and in their drawers. But they are also shrines to the written word, as seen in the wealth of inscriptions on their elaborately decorated walls and ceilings.

This beautifully illustrated book, featuring all new photography by distinguished photographer Carol M. Highsmith, offers readers a guide to these literary inscriptions and explains their significance. Ranging from quotations by great figures in American history, such as Jefferson and Madison, to the words of poets and philosophers from Shakespeare to Emerson, all glorify knowledge and pay debt to the book, which imparts its treasures to man.

For those who have already walked the halls of the Library of Congress, as well as those who are touring them for the first time in these pages, On These Walls is a showcase of literature and art, an extraordinary portrait of an institution whose very ceilings, staircases, and doors fulfill its mission to collect and share the wisdom of all civilizations.
John Y. Cole is founding director of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. He has published widely about books and libraries in society, as well as about the history of the Library of Congress.

Carol M. Highsmith, a distinguished and widely published American photographer, has generously donated much of her work to the Library of Congress.
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  1. Print length
    128 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Scala Arts Publishers Inc.
  4. Publication date
    October 30, 2008
  5. Dimensions
    9.09 x 0.5 x 10.03 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1857595459
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1857595451
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scala Arts Publishers Inc. (October 30, 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 128 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1857595459
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1857595451
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.09 x 0.5 x 10.03 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 23 ratings

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John Young Cole

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
23 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

sc2321
5.0 out of 5 stars Such a beautiful book full of amazing information
Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2023
Verified Purchase
We recently visited this unbelievable library, and had no room in luggage for a book, so grateful to be able to find it here. Arrived in perfect condition, and opening the pages is like being there all over again. Thank you.
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Sewconsult
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2013
Verified Purchase
After visiting the Library of Congress, I purchased this for our daughter who in a bibliophile. (Lover of books) This is a great reminder of our tour and the beautiful inscriptions within the walls of the LoC.
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Houseman
5.0 out of 5 stars Great buy at a great price
Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2016
Verified Purchase
My wife saw this book at the Library of Congress and wanted a copy for our library for Christmas. Great buy at a great price.
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T. Pryor
4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book but lacks inscriptions
Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2011
Verified Purchase
I purchased this book after visiting the Library of Congress in July 2011. The pictures in this book capture the beauty and warmth of this structure BUT I had hoped the authors would include all the wall inscriptions. There were quotes on most of the walls but only a small handful are in this book.
4 people found this helpful
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Happy Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars Details of a Beautiful Building with Excellent Photographs
Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2014
By Beautiful Building, I mean the first and original Library of Congress the building, the Jefferson Building. This book covers all three of the Library's buildings, but the Jefferson is the most ornate. Lovely color photographs illustrate "On These Walls", at least one on every page, most large and some spreading over two pages. The text and captions are excellent and succinct.

This isn't a huge coffee-table book with ad nauseam history and art and architectural analysis, and it doesn't pretend to be. Though slightly oversized, at 10"h x 9"w, it's only 1/2" thick. This is a volume giving you a taste of the inscriptions and the paintings and mosaics that accompany the many inscriptions throughout the three buildings that make up the Library of Congress. Giving the reader just "a taste" makes sense because many of the building inscriptions are in sets. For example, the West Corridor of The Thomas Jefferson Building has a set of inscriptions of the names of eight sciences: zoology, physics, mathematics, geology, archaeology, botany, astronomy and chemistry. Each is accompanied by a romantic/classical painting of a woman representing that science. The book shows you only three of these ladies, but that's enough to give you a good idea of their set-up and style.

The downside, however, is that many of the inscriptions and their illustrations are set high on a wall or ceiling. A photograph is probably the only way to get a view of their details or to even read the writing.

I've had only a couple weekends to explore Washington D.C., enough time to see only a small fraction of what's open to the public. Though I've heard of the beauty of the Library of Congress building, I have yet to see it. With this book, when I actually get to view the building(s), I'll be well prepared for what to look for. For example, the grand staircase has balusters supporting rows of cherubs, each representing a different profession. I'd probably have noticed the cherubs on visiting, but I probably wouldn't have seen that each holds a defining implement, such as a sickle, mortar and pestle and a telephone (electrician).

I'll close with another Madison quote from the walls:

"The happy union of these states is a wonder:
Their constitution a miracle:
Their example the hope of liberty throughout the world"

A beautiful little book.

Happy Reader
2 people found this helpful
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L. Looper
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Book!
Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2009
I was enthralled by this book! I loved looking at the large photographs of all kinds of artwork in the Library of Congress, much of it on the walls and ceilings. The descriptions were descriptive, factual, and very interesting. It made me want to visit the Library of Congress again and pay better attention to my surroundings!
2 people found this helpful
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Sarah P
3.0 out of 5 stars Misleading Book Title
Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2011
Verified Purchase
Recently, I visited the Library of Congress and enjoyed reading and pondering all the quotations and inscriptions on the walls of the Thomas Jefferson Building. I bought this book, thinking it would contain those quotations and inscriptions. It does contain a few, but not many at all. Most of the book (including the photographs) explains the art work (paintings, sculptures, murals, etc.) of the building rather than the quotations and inscriptions (which is what I expected given the title...). There is a fair amount of photographs of famous individuals names and discussion of whose names are in that area of the library, so perhaps that is what the author meant by inscriptions, but definitely not what I expected. The book is well done for a general overview on the artwork throughout the building, but not well done at all for the reflection on the actual quotations and inscriptions within the Thomas Jefferson Building (the main building). So, beware of buying this book if what you actually want are photographs and further insight into the quotations and inscriptions.
19 people found this helpful
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