Books are to be read, libraries are to be visited. Adolf Pawiński and Portuguese book collections

The aim of the article is to present the way in which Adolf Pawiński describes Portuguese libraries he visited. He distinguishes between the “idea of reading” and the “figure of library”.Reading refers to an intertextual dialogue and is essential in recognising and creating the image of Portugal in Pawiński’s book. Library, on the other hand, is regarded only as a place which can be admired.