Set in the unique world of antiquarian bookselling, this novella focuses on a young man intent on protecting the written word on paper from the encroaching digital world.

At the center of Peter Briscoe’s captivating story is Michael Ashe, a rare book dealer who is increasingly aware that his career is losing ground to newly engaging electronic formats. In Ashe’s efforts to keep his business alive and acquire rare editions, he travels the world. Here, the likes of Los Angeles, Paris, and Mexico serve as an interactive landscape for Briscoe’s story. Details of the balmy weather, specialty bookshops, illustrious art museums, beautiful gardens, and local cafés bring a sense of old-world sentiment and charm that contrasts with the invasion of modern technology.

The story is Interspersed with detailed references to literary history, from Latin treatises to French political pamphlets; such inclusions might seem overly academic and weighty to some readers, however they complement the quiet, meditative pace of the story. Similarly, Ashe’s focus on the 17th century librarian-philosopher, Gabriel Naudé, “the best-read man in France,” who fought to preserve knowledge, serves to mirror his own intentions.

As an added layer of drama, Briscoe includes Ashe’s search for love as an element of his daily woes. Although Ashe is a character who seems aware “his work is not conducive to marriage,” in his loneliness he’s clearly open to intimacy and possibilities. He revisits an old flame in Paris and later connects with an attractive digital resource librarian, but questions this newfound conflict of interest. Ultimately, he feels compelled to embark on a passionate public protest that causes his romance to take a bitter turn.

For those with a love of books, the libraries that house them, and a passion for keeping their physicality alive, Between Memory & Oblivion is an absorbing, thought-provoking read. It clearly honors the historic importance of literary preservation, and above all, reminds us that the past matters.

Also available as an ebook.