A Noble Madness

'A magisterial rethinking of why we collect. I loved this book' Edmund de Waal'Magnificent . . . so compulsive and entertaining' Stephen Fry'Give it to the collector in your life, and watch sparks fly!' Cathy Gere'A delight to read and ponder' Jackson Lears'A tour de force of scholarship and storytelling' Daniel WeissA captivating history of obsessive collectors: from ancient looters and idolaters to fin de siècle decadents, Freudian psychos, and hoarders. Collectors are often praised for their taste in art or contributions to science, but there can be a darker side: their passion is sometimes driven by dangerous obsession.Roman emperors who lusted after statues; Chinese scholars obsessed with rocks and flowers; fin de siècle dandies surrounded by bibelots.History is full of stories about those who love things more than people, presenting a danger either to themselves or others.In this sweeping history from antiquity to today, James Delbourgo tells the extraordinary story of the mad co