In 2014, inside the halls of Harvard University, a copy of the book 'Des destinées de l'âme' (or, Destinies of the Soul) was confirmed, by way of peptide mass fingerprinting, to be bound in human skin.
This wasn't entirely a surprise, rumours of the book's origins had been long circulating in Harvard circles. It was even said to be used in hazing rituals at the school. But the official recognition of the book as authentic reignited public discourse in Anthropodermic bibliopegy - the practice of binding books in human skin.
It almost sounds like something out of a comic book - long shadows of dark elites passing relics of possible cruelty around powerful institutions. But instances of human bound books are real, and at least 18 have been authenticated to date. So, who made these books? Why? And of whom?
Go back to the bookshelf and have a look around. Some of these books are not like the others.