Book Handling Agency offers to make unread books look well-read
5 reported
A literary quarterly called Cabinet Magazine has brought to life a concept first proposed by writer Brian O’Nolan 85 years ago. The event took place on a Sunday evening in a Berlin bar’s back room, where a team of white-coated literary experts offered to make unread books appear well-read at moderate prices. Services included spine-breaking, dog-ears, underlined passages, marginalia, and even staining with coffee or wine. The premier package added mauling the edges of the book with a drill and sandpaper, with stains hand-applied by a fluid dynamics specialist. Sina Najafi, editor-in-chief of Cabinet magazine, organized the evening and handled professional spine-breaking, noting that coffee and wine must be dropped from different heights to look authentic. The full story was reported by Benen Harrington.
What’s reported
The idea was first proposed by Brian O’Nolan 85 years ago in The Irish Times.
Cabinet Magazine, a literary quarterly, held the event in a Berlin bar’s back room.
The essential handling package cost €5 and included spine-break, page markers, dog-ears, underlined passages, and marginalia.
The premier package added drill and sandpaper mauling and hand-applied stains by a fluid dynamics specialist.
Sina Najafi is editor-in-chief of Cabinet magazine and organized the evening.
Key figures
Brian O’Nolan (writer, also known as Flann O’Brien and Myles na gCopaleen)
Sina Najafi (editor-in-chief of Cabinet magazine)
Benen Harrington (reporter)
Sources: marginalrevolution.com
