Chapter 8, Chapters 100 - 103 Summary

Chapter 100: General Stumm begins to confide in Ulrich. This seems to occur almost against his will; Stumm does not struggle with the younger man but he also does not understand why this happened. The General tells Ulrich about how true it is that in warfare and in libraries, each soldier is necessary despite other appearances of unimportance. Every book is significant and needed, but the whole situation has changed because there are now more books than any individual can read all of. The General then takes Ulrich to the State library and permits the younger man to spend time in a location of privilege - a place where normally only employees are permitted to spend time. This seems to happen as a consequence of Ulrich suggesting that special arrangements could be made so that ideas can travel and interact...