Anthropodermic Biocodicologists Megan Rosenbloom and Dr. Daniel Kirby investigate if rare books are indeed bound in human skin, as detailed in Rosenbloom’s book, “Dark Archives: A Librarian's Investigation Into the Science and History of Books Bound… — Anthropodermic Biocodicologists Megan Rosenbloom and Dr. Daniel Kirby investigate if rare books are indeed bound in human skin, as detailed in Rosenbloom’s book, “Dark Archives: A Librarian's Investigation Into the Science and History of Books Bound in Human Skin.” (Image: diptych of Megan Rosenbloom with brown hair parted down the middle. She is wearing a dark shirt and a large stone pendant and is looking at the camera with a charming, slight Mona Lisa smile. On the right is Dr. Daniel Kirby, wearing a tie and overcoat pictured outdoors. He has glasses, light grey hair in a neat cut and is smiling at the camera.)

Anthropodermic bibliopegy is a long, fancy way of saying “HUMAN SKIN BOOKS” and the study of confirming or debunking them is … Anthropodermic Biocodicology. For this skin-crawling, history-trawling Spooktober episode, we chat with the absolutely wonderful and charming medical librarian and expert of books bound in human skin, Megan Rosenbloom. Also on the line: analytical chemist Dr. Daniel Kirby, who discusses how books are tested to confirm if they are, in fact, human leather. Why would someone make these? What’s in between the covers? Whose skin is it? What do they smell like? And what can they tell us about our culture and our past? Rosenbloom has just released her book “Dark Archives” and gives us a peek into the world she’s come to know so well. Listen under a blanket or with a nightlight on, though. It’ll give you goosebumps.

Listen via Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get podcasts.

transcript

Megan Rosenbloom’s website

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Buy Dark Archives: A Librarian's Investigation Into the Science and History of Books Bound in Human Skin anywhere books are sold!

A donation went to: BlackMamasMatter.org

Some additional links you may enjoy:

Megan’s Death Salon: https://deathsalon.org/

Anthropodermic Biocodicology (HUMAN LEATHER BOOKS) with Megan Rosenbloom & Dr. Daniel Kirby