Serce domu. Oświeceniowe biblioteki prywatne i ich użytkownicy w powieści Ann Radcliffe The mysteries of Udolpho

In Ann Radcliffe’s novel entitled The Mysteries of Udolpho, the theme of the library turns out to be far more important than one would ever suspect, as positive or negative attitudes to books betray the personal qualities of particular characters. The kind and generous Monsieur St. Aubert and his daughter Emily, for example, are extremely fond of books, whereas the evil and primitive Signor Montoni, who owns a huge castle, has not seen fit to provide it with a library. The significance of this theme also reveals the author’s own views on libraries and their role in people’s lives. Ann Radcliffe saw the library as the heart of any home. Her novel shows that she was not only an eminent author, but also an avid reader and a passionate bibliophile.