Staff Reports
Prepare yourself for an astonishing turn of events as Harvard University administrators embark on a daring quest to separate a rare book from its eerie human skin binding, tucked away within the hallowed halls of the Houghton Library. Yes, you heard correctly—a tome wrapped in human flesh! It's a narrative straight out of the depths of the uncanny, yet here we are, witnessing reality unfold in the most unexpected of ways.
Harvard removes human skin binding from rare book in library https://t.co/xs9LTlELq7 https://t.co/xs9LTlELq7
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) March 29, 2024
At the heart of this enigmatic tale lies Arsène Houssaye’s "Des destinées de l’âme" or "The Destiny of Souls" in its English translation. Originally possessed by the eccentric French physician and book aficionado, Dr. Ludovic Bouland, who boldly declared that "a book delving into the mysteries of the human soul should be adorned with a covering of human origin." Can you fathom the audacity? Without a second thought, he acquired the skin from a deceased female patient at his hospital, disregarding any semblance of propriety or consent. The actions of some individuals never fail to astonish.
But hold onto your hats, for the plot thickens further! This peculiar volume found its way into the archives of Harvard Library in 1934, courtesy of an eccentric American benefactor named John B. Stetson, Jr., and later his widow, Ruby F. Stetson. What an eccentric bequest, wouldn't you agree?
Yet, the intrigue deepens! The decision to divorce the book from its human skin cover follows a solemn recommendation by the Harvard University Steering Committee on Human Remains in University Museum Collections back in 2022. In essence, they suggested, "Harvard, perhaps it's time to reconsider the presence of a tome bound in human skin within your esteemed library."
After much deliberation and introspection, Harvard's luminaries ultimately concluded that retaining the macabre binding was ethically untenable. Can you really blame them? Encountering a book sheathed in human flesh is an experience reserved for the most daring of souls.
However, the saga takes yet another unexpected turn! The Library launches into a comprehensive investigation into the book's murky origins, the enigmatic Dr. Bouland, and the unfortunate, anonymous donor of the skin. They even seek counsel from authorities across the Atlantic, delving deep into the labyrinth of ethical and legal intricacies surrounding these human remains. Talk about a twist in the tale!
And here's the kicker—during its tenure at Harvard, the book remained open for all to peruse. Can you imagine stumbling upon such a chilling artifact while innocently perusing the library's shelves? It's the kind of spine-tingling encounter that lingers long after the pages have been turned.
Harvard Library's admission of past mishandlings rings with a somber note, acknowledging "failures in its stewardship of the book, further objectifying and compromising the dignity of the human being whose remains were utilized for its binding." A sobering realization, to say the least.
