Jerome's two libraries

The contribution first analyses some less known mentions of Jerome’s book possessions (e.g. De vir. ill. 75) and his efforts in having books copied for him even in the Holy Land (Hier. Ep. 10.3; Rufin. Apol. Adu. Hier. 2.11). For instance, in Ep. 22.30 (right before the famous episode of the dream of the Judge), Jerome laments he could not stand being parted from his personal library in Rome, given his effort in creating it. And yet, despite the abundant information Jerome shares on his library possessions in Bethlehem, it is impossible, for a the reader, to virtually recreate the extent of his library. Moreover, in defending himself from Rufinus’ accusations (Adu. Rufin. 1.30), Jerome describes how, even though he rejected the idea of reading codices saeculares, it is impossible for him, as it would be for anyone, to forget the texts he has learnt during his years as a student of rhetoric. Allusions to Latin classics are therefore also ascribable to a ‘mental library’, one which probably Jerome refers to more often than it is necessary, to justify his quotations from detractors. Jerome’s use of Cicero’s model in Ep. 123, which has never been investigated before, is an effective example of how he makes use (or pretends to make use) of his ‘mental library’.