Poets and Writers

Travelling in our minds with books, like Selma Lagerlöf's The Wonderful Adventures of Nils

Discover the history behind the beautiful patterns and illustrations inside book covers

A true writer-journalist, Emile Zola successfully managed both activities for about 20 years, at first out of financial necessity before he became a successful author, but also by conviction.

One of Bulgaria’s most cherished poets during her lifetime, today Dora Gabe is honoured both in her home country and across Europe.

Author Miloš Crnjanski’s works form an invaluable part of Serbian 20th-century literature. His creative writing – poetry and prose – as well as his life in general, were marked by key elements: migration, exile and existential drama.

Alphabets are the building blocks of the written languages in Europe, used to communicate, teach and decorate. Explore the beauty of typography, alphabets and languages in this gallery.

How would you like having a poem composed especially for your friendship album? This is what happened to Elizabeth Adriana Staats (1823-1896).

Across the world different cultures have combined handwriting and art to create aesthetic works of text. These differing traditions across communities and timespans are fascinating to compare.

Here's a variety of book cover designs, from children's fiction to classics of world literature.

Many noteworthy authors were put on the Index librorum prohibitorum because their works were seen to cause religious, political and moral controversies.

"There are perhaps no days of our childhood we lived so fully as those we spent with a favourite book" – Marcel Proust.

A Serbian writer and traveller who led a remarkable life.

A striking illustration of the relationship between Venice, Istria and Dalmatia.

Zala Mojca Jerman Kuželički of National and University Library in Slovenia introduces us to Ivan Cankar, who died 100 years ago today and is regarded as the greatest writer in the Slovene language.

Content relating to books

From antiquity to the early print era

Many medieval manuscripts are full of decorated capital letters that come in all styles and sizes.

Whether it’s inscriptions, annotations or doodles, readers have always made their marks in books as decoration, aids to memory and signs of ownership.

Explore our collection of Newspapers