A Tour of Oprah's Library

Where does the woman who got America reading curl up with a good novel?

Photo: Björn Wallander

In Oprah's library at her California home, an African-American doll takes pride of place on the sofa, and two paintings by Harry Roseland (Rent Day and The Writing Lesson) flank the doorway.

Photo: Jonny Valiant

A trio of daguerreotypes—early photographs on silver plates—adorns the mantel.

Photo: Jonny Valiant

"Standing Woman with Pleated Skirt," a 1926 sculpture by French-American artist Gaston Lachaise, presides over copies of Poems of Black Africa, Arnold Adoff's Slow Dance Heart Break Blues, and And So I Sing, a book about African-American opera divas.

Art © The Lachaise Foundation

Photo: Jonny Valiant

Thomas Hart Benton's famous 1945 painting, Back from the Fields, hangs above the mantel. Two books exploring the artist's work sit on the table below.

Art © T.H. Benton and R.P. Benton Testamentary Trusts/UMB Bank Trustee/Licensed by Vaga, New York, New York

Photo: Jonny Valiant

A selection of books on fashion designers and photographers. Oprah's collection has grown to include scores of gorgeous coffee-table books. "There are a lot of fun books in there, which makes it a functioning library for everyday reading," says Oprah's book dealer Kinsey Marable.

Get a closer look at the books on Oprah's bookshelves

From the Fall 2008 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine