by Steven E. Schend
Ever
had a character who wanted a unique treasure to give as a gift in a game?
Or one who wanted to know exactly what’s on the shelves of that wizard’s
library? Does the Realms hold precious treasures other than gold and gems
and magic items -- perhaps books? If issues like this have come up in
your campaign, the Candlekeep Collection is what you’ve been waiting
for!
The Candlekeep Collection contains the most complete list to date of all books, incunabula, codices, and compendiums in the Realms. All of these have either been mentioned or quoted in Forgotten Realms game products or novels. They serve to make the Realms a real place, with things existing out of the moment of your games. Thus, why not put them all (at least those we know of) on Candlekeep’s shelves?
The books in this list are rare; they’re usually very carefully kept -- for a variety of reasons. Some hide secret knowledge, while others simply educate their readers of far off places and peoples. Use them in your games as adventure hooks; stolen books are something new to go recover instead of kidnapped children. Use them as treasures: Even if your PCs don’t appreciate a rare copy of De Naturis Rerum, you can easily introduce them to someone willing to take it off their hands for cash. The secrets within the books are adventure hooks enough (as well as clues to guide a game), so there’s no end to the uses of the collection.
Originally, the lists here were compiled to provide titles and books for players of the Baldur’s Gate computer game to read off the shelves of Candlekeep, but they never made it into the game. Still, the lists survive and grow with each author’s toss-away comments on book titles and authors alike. The Candlekeep Collection is our way of keeping the Realms a living place, even if it is cluttered up with dusty old books.
Tomes in Candlekeep
For many years, Candlekeep gained its glamour and reputation for being the greatest repository of knowledge on Faerūn. While others -- from Heralds’ Holdfast to Silverymoon’s Vault of the Sages -- make equal claims, Candlekeep remains the colloquial favorite amid tavern talk and scholars alike. At least in terms of collection, not the access to the same.
For many of the books listed here, it’s assumed that between three and eight copies exist about the Realms, of which Candlekeep keeps one (or more) on hand. Notes below identify whether Candlekeep holds the original manuscript or a hand-scribed copy. Due to the very limited nature of books in the Realms (due to their predominant creation by hand, regardless of new printing technologies in Waterdeep and elsewhere), originals likely remain in their creators' hands.
A number of books (the Volo manuscripts, for example) are listed here simply because their widespread notoriety suggests that Candlekeep would have a copy (or would note the book’s existence, at least). Thus, even while the sole copies might reside elsewhere without benefit of viewing at the Keep, the monks can at least corroborate a book’s existence or lack thereof.
Alphabetic Book List
|
Book Title |
Original? |
# Volumes |
Date Written? |
Author |
|
A Dove at Dawn |
No |
1 |
1329 |
Ardreth, High Harp of Berdusk |
|
A Glimpse into the Abyss |
No |
2 |
1322 |
Tahyr yn Savras, "the Mad Seer of Manshaka" |
|
A Guide to the Cold North |
Yes |
1 |
? |
Alagond, sage of Tashluta |
|
* A Guide to the Underdark |
No |
1 |
1370 |
Drizzt Do'Urden (sole Realms copy compiled from contributing authors for Alustriel of Luruar) |
|
A Harper's Guide |
No |
1 |
1264 |
Alustriel, High Lady of Silverymoon |
|
A Harper's Song |
No |
1 |
? |
Storm Silverhand |
|
A Merchant Master's Life |
Yes |
1 |
? |
Asargrym of Baldur's Gate |
|
A Merchant’s Musings |
No |
1 |
1355 |
Donstable Hroun, Master Merchant of Tsurlagol |
|
A Merchant’s Musings |
Yes |
1 |
1347 |
Holdryn Nalaster, merchant of Suzail |
|
A Merchant's Sagacity |
Yes |
1 |
? |
Blackthorn Belgadar |
|
A Merchant's Tale |
No |
1 |
? |
Jarn Tiir of Lantan |
|
A Myth Drannan Amphigory |
No |
3 |
1337 |
Elminster of Shadowdale |
|
A Ranger's Road |
Yes |
1 |
? |
Thaulavvan Tridentstar |
|
A Ruler’s Guide |
No |
1 |
? |
Velm Blackrood |
|
A Sage's Travel Guide to the North |
No |
1 |
? |
Zanshareen Sabiyryn |
|
A Shorter History of Amn |
No |
1 |
? |
Anonymous |
|
A Slave's Life |
No |
1 |
c. –3000 |
Anonymous |
|
A Small but Treasonous Chapbook |
No |
1 |
1359 |
Albaertin of Marsember |
|
A Study of First Age Calishite Architecture |
No |
1 |
c. 1280 |
Malak yn Cikarl of Manshaka |
|
A Tashlutan Traveler's Day-Thoughts |
Yes |
4 |
1344 |
Caladrahan Mhelymbryn, Sage of Matters Holy |
|
A Trader from Telflamm: My Years Amid High-Heaped Gold |
No |
1 |
1357 |
Uldurn Maskovert |
|
A Treatise toward Unity: Comparisons of the People and Humanity in Art and Life |
No |
2 |
503 |
Arun Maerdrymm of Myth Drannor |
|
A Warrior's View |
Yes |
1 |
? |
Galgarr Thormspur, Marshal of Maligh |
|
A Wayfarer's Belt-Book of Advice |
No |
1 |
? |
Rasthiavar of Iriaebor, Sage |
|
Adventures of Camber Fosrick: |
No |
|||
|
includes the Adventure of the Battledale Billhook |
No |
6 |
? |
Lodevin Parkar (scribe of Cormyr) |
|
An Archmage's Life at Court |
No |
1 |
1351 |
Vangerdahast Aeiulvana |
|
An Ecology of the Planes |
Yes |
7 |
c1354 |
Garth of Suzail |
|
An Old Warrior's Way |
No |
1 |
? |
Dathlance of Selgaunt |
|
Annals of First Vizera Zahyra |
No |
52 |
-84 |
Zahyra Bardson-Ithal (personal diaries of the Tethyrian sorceress) |
|
Annals of the Maker—Volumes 32-38 |
Yes |
7 |
C1300 |
Allard Faerglon, Keeper of Records for the Maker’s Hall, Zazesspur |
|
Anthropologic & Folkloric Histories of the Settled Lands |
No |
7 |
? |
Carcroft the Long |
|
Archetymbal |
Yes |
1 |
? |
Kastor (scribe of Cormyr) |
|
Arglauth's Guide to the North |
No |
1 |
? |
Arglauth Melroryrr, Sage of Mulmaster |
|
The Art and the Paths upon which it led me |
Yes |
1 |
1240 |
Bowgentle |
|
Ballads and Lore of One Dusty Road |
No |
2 |
1350 |
Sharanralee |
|
Battered Bones and Scattered Skulls: The Life of a Dwarven Champion |
No |
3 |
? |
Rauthglur Ormyndake |
|
Bestiary of Creatures Strange and Wonderful |
No |
1 |
600s? |
Anonymous (though suspected of being penned by the Guild of Naturalists while in Myth Drannor) |
|
Bibliamagus |
Yes |
1 |
C1264 |
Thelonn Bedelzar of Crimmor |
|
The Black Book of a Garrulous Merchant |
Yes |
1 |
1357 |
Haldimer Hurezan, Factor of the Blingblade Coster of Murann |
|
The Book of Black Tidings |
Yes |
1 |
? |
Urkitbaeran of Calimport |
|
Book of Passing Years |
No |
1 |
? |
Unknown |
|
The Book of Stars and Shadows |
No |
1 |
? |
Rindala Shardroon, Sage of Immilmar |
|
The Book of the Coast |
Yes |
1 |
1293 |
Mespert of Baldur's Gate |
|
The Book of the World |
No |
1 |
? |
Unknown |
|
Cauldron Bright: Fireside Tales of Old Tethyr |
No |
1 |
? |
Dalimblas Thurm |
|
Chants to the Glory of the Darksun |
No |
2 |
? |
Tuth Malgul, Doompriest of the Sun’s Shadow Shrine |
|
Chronicla Tethyria |
No |
4 |
c. 1280s |
Anonymous Court scribe of Tethyr |
|
The Chronicle of Years to Come |
Yes |
4 |
? |
Maglas the Seer |
|
Collection of Notes on Falconry |
No |
1 |
? |
Unknown falconers in the employ of the Crown of Cormyr |
|
The Compleat Dragon Hunter |
No |
1 |
c. 1300 |
Smerdiuk Dragonbane of Arabel |
|
The Concise History of the Chosen Seven |
Yes |
2 |
1327 |
Cirian, Master Chronicler of Candlekeep |
|
The Creation of Dragons |
No |
1 |
? |
Unknown |
|
De Naturis Rerum |
No |
1 |
? |
Alaphondar, Sage Most Learned of the Royal Court of Cormyr |
|
The Deepwalker Chronicles |
Yes |
9 |
576-580 |
Halgar "Deepwalker" Ankarkyn of Tethyr |
|
The Demonsbane Annals |
Yes |
3 |
c. 960s |
Tuorn, sage of Sarshel |
|
Discourses on Art and Gems |
Yes |
2 |
1312 |
Sarmallin of Yhaunn |
|
Dissensions of a Chessentan |
No |
1 |
1348 |
Yarynous Whaelidon |
|
Dogmen of the Shaar |
No |
1 |
676 |
Dhynthar of Kormul |
|
Dolorous Days in Daerlūn: My Exile from Cormyr |
No |
1 |
? |
Jalduth Mimbraer |
|
Elder Days of Amn |
Yes |
1 |
? |
Ortin Blaer, Master Historian of Memnon |
|
Empires of the Sands |
No |
11 |
c. 900s |
Akabar ibn Hrellem of Keltar |
|
Encyclopedia Serōsica |
No |
2 |
1370 |
A Mariner (Anonymous) |
|
Evolution and Creation |
Yes |
2 |
c1356 |
Terrance Balancehand of Scornubel |
|
Falcon Fun |
Yes |
1 |
1344 |
Edwin Narlok of Waterdeep |
|
Fallen Legacies: Arcaeological and Historical Analysis of the Mere of Dead Men |
No |
2 |
1346 |
Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun |
|
The Falling Feather: Romance and Passion among Modern Noble Lasses |
No |
1 |
1359 |
Unknown |
|
Folio of Brass |
No |
1 |
c. 1250 |
Tellar Moendath of Luskan |
|
Folk of Renown |
Yes |
3 |
? |
Glasgert Himlothrith, Sribe of Iriaebor |
|
Forty Years Before the Doors: A Life in Service |
No |
2 |
1363 |
Zanthravas Rolovantar, Lord Chamberlain of Castle Waterdeep |
|
Gold Amid Dragonfire |
Yes |
1 |
? |
Donstan of Athkatla, Master Adventurer |
|
The Golden Age of Goblins. |
Yes |
1 |
1289 |
Artur Shurtmin, Loremaster of Berdusk |
|
Great Changes Aborning (ballad first performed c 1332) |
No |
1 |
1341 |
Mintiper Moonsilver, bard |
|
Half a Life: A Halfbreed's Journeys among the Elves |
Yes |
1 |
c. 993 |
Hural Artseeker of Rawlinswood |
|
Harping by Moonlight: Approaches to Life |
No |
1 |
? (c. 1330s) |
Elminster of Shadowdale |
|
The High History of Faerūnian Archmages Mighty |
No |
4 |
1366 |
Antarn the Sage |
|
Historia Tethyra |
No |
5 |
1370-1371 |
King Haedrak III (Rhindaun) of Tethyr |
|
Home in the Hallows At Last: Musings of a Retired Wanderer |
No |
1 |
? |
Uldon Saertluth of Turmish |
|
Hunter’s Blessing |
No |
1 |
? |
Solonor Thelandira (recorded by anonymous priests of that god) |
|
I Am Reminded: Memoirs of a Dragonslayer |
No |
2 |
? |
Aernstag Oeblym of Starmantle |
|
I Harp as I See It |
Yes |
1 |
1365 |
Abranthar "Twoquills" Foraeren |
|
Imaskari Book of War |
No |
2 |
? |
Unknown; only exists in Common and dwarven translations, not original text |
|
The Internal Structure of the Brachiopod |
No |
1 |
? |
Linnaeus Gozzling, professor of the University of Suzail, Cormyr |
|
Journals of Maerlun |
Yes |
8 |
? |
Maerlun the Scholar |
|
Just Another Tome Among So Many: Last Leaves of a Librarian |
Yes |
1 |
? |
Beldrim Bessart of Baldur's Gate |
|
The Key to the Fastness |
No |
1 |
? |
Lorth Blaenarry |
|
Kings and Worse |
Yes |
1 |
c. 450s |
Ulblood Rathtin, "Royalslayer" of Tethyr |
|
Kuldin's Calling |
No |
1 |
c. –400s |
Taarnal Swiftdagger (viable ID of Iltkazan) |
|
Lectures to a Youngling |
No |
1 |
1236 |
Arivant, sage of Ormath |
|
Legacy of the Three Shields |
No |
1 |
c. 900s |
Iana Robinsong of Silverymoon |
|
Lessons to Children |
No |
7 |
? (c. 1310s) |
Aglasz Jhavildar, Sage of Teziir |
|
Letters to a Sheltered Son |
No |
1 |
? |
Oblut Thoim, Master Merchant of Teziir |
|
Letters to Novice Court Wizards |
No |
3 |
1316 |
Vangerdahast of Cormyr |
|
Letters to the Court of Elfrin (collected letters) |
No |
2 |
? |
Various authors |
|
Life Beneath the Sails |
No |
3 |
1369 |
Anonymous (from Inner Sea lands) |
|
Life of Rebrum |
No |
3 |
c1210 |
Rebrum of Sheirtalar |
|
Life on the Rack |
No |
1 |
650 |
Shavryn Ilidar, High Priest of Ilmater |
|
Lines on the North |
Yes |
1 |
? |
Hommil Dundreth, Merchant-Mage of Hlintar |
|
Lord Bhereu’s Manual of Standards and Procedure |
No |
2 |
1328 |
Duke Bhereu (Huntsilver?) of Cormyr |
|
Lore of the Coast |
Yes |
1 |
? |
Irigoth Mmar, High Sage of Baldur's Gate |
|
Lost Amongst Pirates |
No |
1 |
? |
Geonos of Crimmor |
|
Lyres, Harps, and Horns: Sixty Years at Court in Suzail & Elsewhere |
No |
3 |
? (c. 1360s) |
Aglasz Jhavildar, Sage of Suzail |
|
Magic that I Have Tasted |
Yes |
1 |
? (c. 1290s) |
Elbruth Torlim, Red Wizard of Thay (retired) |
|
Magics of the South |
Yes |
2 |
1038 |
Zatan Arrowswift, Herald of Athkatla |
|
Meanderings |
Yes |
1 |
1231 |
Bowgentle |
|
Meditations and Meditations |
No |
1 |
? |
Kirkabey (scribe of Cormyr) |
|
Memoirs of an Illithid-Human Crossbreed |
Yes |
1 |
1355 |
Naneetha Shinalstar, War Mage of Saelmur |
|
The Moonlight Morningstar Murders |
Yes |
1 |
? |
Unknown |
|
The Moonshae Chronicles |
No |
3 |
c1340s |
Flamsterd of the Moonshaes |
|
Musings |
Yes |
1 |
? |
Helsuntiir of Athkatla |
|
Musings from a Lonely Tower In Athkatla |
Yes |
3 |
1356 |
Selbryn the Sage |
|
Musings of a Chessentan Scholar |
No |
2 |
1357 |
Loremaster Hardolan Myrinter |
|
Musings of a Shameless Noble |
No |
1 |
1357 |
Lady Citta Hothemer of Waterdeep |
|
Musings of a Witch-Queen in Exile |
No |
1 |
? |
Athaeal of Evermeet |
|
Musings on the Realms |
No |
1 |
? |
Oren bel Dannar, Sage of Triel |
|
My Adventures in the Realms |
No |
6 |
? |
Dathlyr "The Hammer" Greybold |
|
My Journeys Around the Sea of Fallen Stars |
Yes |
3 |
1298 |
Nelve Harssad of Tsurlagol |
|
My Life with an Adventurer |
No |
2 |
1238 |
Kylae Aglundar |
|
Nine Stars Around a Silver Moon |
No |
1 |
? |
Mintiper Moonsilver, bard |
|
None but the Undying: My Days Driving Down Those Who Walk |
Yes |
2 |
? |
Alabaer Dree, Scourge of Undead |
|
Notes on Serōs |
Yes |
3 |
1359 |
Ondam Moray of Dilpur |
|
Notes on the Tuigan |
No |
1 |
C1353 |
Lord Rayburton of Cormyr |
|
The Nymph Says No |
No |
1 |
? |
Unknown |
|
The Obarskyr Family Histories |
No |
5 |
1308 |
Various anonymous court scribes of Cormyr (and personal reminisces by various Obarskyrs themselves) |
|
Of the Clans and Clashes of Shanatar |
No |
4 |
Early 1100s |
Bryth Tolar of Clan Ironhelm in Mirabar |
|
Of the Four Natures |
No |
2 |
1247 |
Ali Binwar, Elementalist professor at the School of Wonder (Amn) |
|
Of the Wonders of Magery |
Yes |
4 |
C1320s |
Albaerum the Sage of Neverwinter |
|
On the Matter of Magecraft and the City: A Summary for the Lords of Waterdeep |
No |
1 |
1179 |
Khelben Arunsun ("the Elder") |
|
One Warrior's Life |
No |
1 |
? |
Azlundar, Lion of Neverwinter |
|
One Warrior’s Way |
No |
1 |
1237 |
Bhelorn Shavarr |
|
The Origin Myths—A Treatise |
Yes |
1 |
1354 |
Dunkelzahn of Candlekeep |
|
Posthumous Musings of a Zhentarim Mageling |
No |
1 |
1350 |
Destrar Gulhallow |
|
Praise for the Fallen: When the Dwarves Were Mighty |
No |
4 |
? |
Delder Morgablade, Sage of Telflamm |
|
Proceedings |
Yes |
1 |
? |
Magus Firewand (scribe and mage of Cormyr) |
|
Pseudobiblia |
No |
1 |
? |
Edygulph Erremore, naturalist & sage |
|
Quiet Days along the Dessarin |
No |
1 |
? |
Leaontar Dlarvin, Bargemaster of "the Black Boat" |
|
Raging Blades: A Tale of the North |
No |
1 |
? |
Halvidon Maeraed, Bard of Elturel |
|
Ramblings |
Yes |
1 |
? |
Nenemith the Sage |
|
The Red Book of a Thayvian Mage |
No |
1 |
1345 |
Thaelrythyn of Thay |
|
The Roads Beyond Faerūn |
Yes |
1 |
1360 |
Iyritar Sarsharm, Sage of Tashluta |
|
Sayings of a Wise and Fat Merchant |
No |
2 |
? |
Guldom Tchar of Mirabar |
|
Sayings of a Wyrm |
Yes |
1 |
? |
Naurglaur the green dragon |
|
Sayings of the North |
No |
1 |
? |
Annath of Neverwinter |
|
Sayings of the North |
Yes |
1 |
? |
Faeranduil of Neverwinter, Sage |
|
Sayings of the Sultan: Court Records |
No |
94 |
?-? |
Arkanuirr Tchellem, Sultan of Tulmon |
|
Seasons in the Heartland |
No |
1 |
? |
Chelm Vandor (scribe of Cormyr) |
|
Secrets Learnt at Dagger Point |
Yes |
1 |
1314 |
Khollas Tandrymson of Myratma |
|
Seeds, Cuttings, and Transplants: A Gardener’s Tome for All Seasons |
No |