The Rudolf Maister Library: What is Known about Personal Libraries of Famous Slovenes and What do They Reveal About Their Owners

Personal libraries of philosophers, scientists, writers and bibliophiles can be traced back to the ancient Greece. Since the Renaissance private libraries have often formed, in Slovenia as well as elsewhere in Europe, basic collections of university and national libraries. Since the second half of the nineteenth century more and more Slovenian intellectuals have collected large personal libraries. Personal library of the general Rudolf Maister, collected at the turn of the century, is a bibliophile library. Rudolf Maister collected all publications, published in Slovenian language and by Slovenian authors. His library therefore presents him as a Slovenian patriot and at the same time reflects the Slovenian national tendencies of the period. Many of Maister‘s contemporaries collected large personal libraries but only few of these collections are preserved, listed and protected.<br /><br />