José Rizal's Books: Personal Library

The Philippine national hero, Dr. José Rizal had such a great attachment to his personal books.  He resented the fact that while a student in Madrid, he learned from Paciano that one book in his Calamba collection was borrowed by a civil servant.  He of course knew that when someone borrows a book, that item will never find its way back again on his sagging library shelves.  

Let's take a peek at his personal library.  among them are:

• The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexander Dumas, Spanish version.

•  Travels in the Philippines, Fedor Jagor

• Guilliver's Travels, Jonathan Swift,  in English.

• Lives of the Presidents of the United States-from Washington to Johnson.  Deluxe, Morocco bound leather, gilt edge and illustrated copy.

• A History of the US Presidents, from Washington to Cleveland (used copy). 

• A History of the English Revolution: A Comparison of the Romans and the Teutons.

• The Wandering Jew.  Eugene Sue (used copy).

• Florante at Laura by Francisco Balagtas.  He carried this volume in his breast pocket everywhere he went.

Image via Wikipedia

Francisco Balagtas, author: Florante at Laura, a Philippine epic.