A Date with Books & A Stroll Through Time with a Charming Bibliophile

I recently went on a date that took me on a journey back in time – no, not via time machine, but through the pages of dusty, classic encyclopaedias! My date is a delightful older gentleman who loves collecting and reading books that most people have long forgotten, and his private library could easily rival that of an old-world scholar.

As I walked in, I was greeted by rows of weathered volumes like the “Great Soviet Encyclopedia” and the “Dizionario Enciclopedico Italiano,” nestled next to classic editions of the Encyclopædia Britannica. It felt like stepping into a literary treasure trove where each book whispered stories of days gone by.

The room had this warm, intellectual vibe—partly due to the musty scent of old books and partly thanks to the door labeled PRIVATE, making it feel like I was in some secret archive. My favorite part of the evening was when he pulled out a worn volume and regaled me with a story about how he found it in an obscure bookshop decades ago. Honestly, who needs Netflix when you’ve got a living, breathing library tour guide?

We spent hours talking about the history behind these beautiful volumes. Some of the books were falling apart, pages yellowing, spines cracked—yet every imperfection felt like a badge of honor, a testament to the centuries they’ve survived.

As the night went on, I realised that this wasn’t just a date with a charming man, but with history itself. It’s rare to meet someone who finds joy in the faded ink of yesteryear, and it’s a reminder that sometimes, the best stories aren’t just in what we read—but in the people we share them with.