Gentlemanly Pursuits: The Library

Photography by Joshua Scott

While RuPaul's library may be open for a different kind of "reading," the grand monuments erected in the name of scholarly pursuits show mankind's reverence and thirst for knowledge. E-books and iGadgets have made information more accessible and convenient, but they've also robbed it of its physical charm. From the vaulted ceilings of Rome's Biblioteca Angelica to the majestic spiral staircase at Oxford's Codrington Library, perusing the shelves for a well-worn book still has its appeal, even in the Digital Age.

Clockwise from top left: hardcover classics by Penguin Classics, $20-$22; chess set by Asprey, price available upon request; Carthage mini lamp in natural brass by Ralph Lauren Home, $570; bleecker pebbled leather notebook in mahogany by Coach, $168; fountain pen by Montblanc, $2,660; leather notebook cover by Hermes, $245; Lismore diamond decanter, $295, and tumbler, $125 (for set of two), by Waterford; Richmond rug in midnight navy (shown as background) by Ralph Lauren Home, $3,850