Nestor Alren

It is nothing if not awkward to write about oneself, but I've been instructed that, as the author of these many works, I must have a bit of a biography about myself.   Prior to joining the Athenaeum, I was from Northern Beleterra. I have always loved books, and as soon as I began my formal education here, became enthralled with producing them. I have no living family, and no plans to marry or have human children. As such, I have been told that my books are my progeny. Admittedly, there may be a fair few of them.  

Personal History

I was born in a small hamlet in the mountains of Northern Beleterra. It was, quite objectively, a beautiful place, with waterfalls coming off the mountains in every season, though they be mostly frozen in the depths of winter. My family of birth consisted of myself, Mother and Father, and two brothers. The older one mostly kept to himself, but the younger one...he changed me forever.   When I was seven, I came home from the fish market one day to find my favorite book torn to pieces. My youngest brother had torn out every page, folded them into paper airplanes, and was setting them on fire as he threw them off the roof. their paper wings burned to ash as they fell to the snow.   That same brother used to call me dinglehead, supposedly as an insult based on my love of reading. So another day, I woke to find he had scratched the word "dinglehead" into every available piece of wall in my small bedroom.   It was a relief to finally leave to attend school at the Athenaeum those many years ago, and I have remained here since. I long ago abandoned any hope of reconciling with my family of birth. Books, research, art, information, and the people of the Athenaeum, are my family now. But that has been a process, and I do often miss the landscape of my birthplace. I enjoyed watercolor painting, and it has frequently been the subject of my art.  

Legacy

I suppose the thing that most people know me for is my books. They are my legacy. At current count, I believe there are close to a hundred. However, in order to produce an accurate count, I shall have to start an actual list, which will take some time. But my books are my children, and I have no intention of stopping at the current count.