# Gibbon — On the Art of Reading character guide

> Gibbon in On the Art of Reading by Arthur Quiller-Couch.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0004-lecture-ii-apprehension-versus-comprehension

## Who they are

Edward Gibbon, the historian of the Roman Empire, cited for his style.

## In the story

### [Lecture II: Apprehension Versus Comprehension](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_art_of_reading_se/chapters/lecture-ii-apprehension-versus-comprehension)

Quoted regarding the burning of the Library of Alexandria; his view that the best works survived is challenged by the narrator.

### [Lecture VIII: On Reading the Bible (I)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_art_of_reading_se/chapters/lecture-viii-on-reading-the-bible-i)

Listed by Newman as an example of a distinctive English style; noted as an infidel.

### [Lecture IX: On Reading the Bible (II)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_art_of_reading_se/chapters/lecture-ix-on-reading-the-bible-ii)

Noted as an enemy of the Bible yet controlled by its style.

### [Lecture XI: Of Selection](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_art_of_reading_se/chapters/lecture-xi-of-selection)

Listed among 18th century prose masters admired for their orderly marshalling of argument.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_art_of_reading_se/characters/gibbon
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_art_of_reading_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_art_of_reading_se/characters