On Books and Walls

Herlily, a friend and a Ph.D. student at UC Berkeley, forwarded me this article in The Jakarta Post, about books that are (still) barred from entering Indonesia (thanks Mbak!). Interestingly, it coincides with my recent re-reading of an unpublished article written by my professor at UC Berkeley, Jill Stoner on “Reading and the City” (1992):

Historically, the very existence of libraries raised a specter of anarchy, and the most authoritative rulers were careful to maintain close control over the production and existence of books. Much has been written about the Chinese emperor Shih Huang Ti, who ordered the burning of all books that were written prior to his reign. He was also responsible for the construction of the Great Wall. Books open; and walls shut down. As Jorge Luis Borges says, “burning books and erecting fortifications is a common task of princes.” [in “The Wall and The Books,” Labyrinths, p.186.] The first instrument of control is the un-making (or books); and the second is the making (of walls). It is not surprising that the Emperor forced all those who were found to be in possession of illegal books to labor on the Great Wall.”