The Strange Library

When he asks to borrow a book, he is directed to Room 107 in the basement where a stern old man confronts him.

Fearful, the boy says he is interested in tax collection in the Ottoman Empire and the man goes to fetch three large volumes.

He is told that he has one month to memorise all three volumes, after which the old man intends to eat his brains once they have become ‘nice and creamy’ with knowledge.

[5] In February 2005 an illustrated edition of The Strange Library appeared in Japanese (図書館奇譚 toshokankitan, published by Kodansha).

[6] In November 2014 The Strange Library was published in Japan by Shinchosha with illustrations by Kat Menschik[7] Several editions then appeared in translation, including the ones listed below.