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"A Noble Madness" is a deep dive into the history and psychology of collecting, exploring how this enduring human impulse has been interpreted across centuries and cultures. From ancient Rome’s “statue love” and medieval religious relics to Enlightenment-era libertines and 19th-century bibliomaniacs, the book traces the evolving image of the collector—from revered preserver of civilization to eccentric, obsessive, or even pathological figure. It links the act of collecting to broader themes like Freudian repression, hoarding disorder, colonialism, and scientific progress, examining how cultural, political, and psychological forces have shaped what—and why—we collect. Highlighting collectors from Ming dynasty China to European aristocracy, A Noble Madness reveals how collecting can serve as an act of identity, rebellion, salvation, or self-expression in both personal and societal contexts.

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