Featured Article Summary #35

'Dark Archives' by Megan Rosenbloom is a book that explores the practice of binding books in human skin. Rosenbloom's research delves into the history, ethics, and cultural implications of this practice. Contrary to popular belief, most cases of anthropodermic bibliopegy were associated with medical professionals rather than infamous figures like Nazis or serial killers. Rosenbloom examines the relationship between anthropodermic books and the history of medicine, discussing the evolving attitudes towards consent, ownership, and disposal of human bodies. She interviews experts and explores notable examples of these books, advocating for their preservation while also presenting arguments against it. Published in 2020, 'Dark Archives' has received praise for its thorough research and engaging writing style, although some have questioned the sensitivity of Rosenbloom's approach. Her perspective as a death-positive advocate is seen as a significant influence on her exploration of anthropodermic books. Anthropodermic bibliopegy, or the practice of binding books in human skin, was most popular among doctors in the 19th century. However, there were many fraudulent claims, and the existence of only 18 books bound in human skin has been confirmed. The identification of human skin bindings has been difficult until the mid-2010s, when peptide mass fingerprinting became the gold standard method. Megan Rosenbloom, a librarian, was inspired to research this phenomenon after encountering anthropodermic books in a medical publisher near Philadelphia's Mütter Museum. The book Dark Archives explores the history of books bound in human skin and their connection to the medical field. The author, Megan Rosenbloom, recounts her experiences at Mütter and her involvement in the Anthropodermic Book Project, which tests suspected skin-bound books. She also addresses common myths and rumors about these books, discusses the ethical considerations of preserving them, and examines the individuals associated with the practice. The book concludes with a discussion of privately held anthropodermic books and the laws surrounding them. Dark Archives is a book that took six years of research and visits to literary archives and private collectors to complete. It includes interviews with librarians, archivists, and other researchers who have differing opinions on the ethics of books bound in human skin. The book also provides biographies of important figures, such as John Stockton Hough, a physician who bound anthropodermic books at the Mütter Museum. Dark Archives was published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in October 2020. Dark Archives received positive reviews for its depth of research, accessible writing style, and passion for rare book preservation. The author's intellectual and ideological stances were both praised and criticized in the reviews.