The book was first published in 1880 and has been republished in different editions in 1881, 1888,[2] 1896, and 1902 and reproduced widely in electronic format in the 21st century.

In the book, Blades, a well-known collector and preserver of the works of the English printer William Caxton, documented his outrage at any mistreatment of books in what became a passionate diatribe against biblioclasts, human and non-human, wherever he found them.

The book includes chapters on the following enemies of books: fire, water, gas and heat, dust and neglect, ignorance and bigotry, the bookworm, bookbinders, book collectors, other vermin (such as rats or flies), servants, and children.

[3] The book ends with a passionate call for reverence for old books, something the author felt was lacking during his life.

This article about a non-fiction book on literature or literary criticism is a stub.