Books Condemned to be Burnt

A historical survey examines the practice of condemning and burning books in the United Kingdom, tracing episodes from the sixteenth century through successive reigns and political upheavals to the final instances of the custom. It combines chronological catalogue entries, illustrative anecdotes, and legal and social context to show how censorship, religious and political conflict, and punitive spectacle shaped attitudes to printed matter. The author balances bibliographical detail with cultural reflection, inviting collectors and general readers to consider both the mechanics of book-burning and its role as a marker of changing public manners.