EXHIBIT 23.1


                             CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT
                           CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS



Barnes & Noble, Inc.
New York, New York



We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference of our report dated March
10, 1999 relating to the consolidated financial statements of Barnes & Noble,
Inc. and subsidiaries, incorporated by reference into the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 30, 1999, into the prospectuses
constituting a part of the following registration statements: No. 33-84826 on
Form S-3, No. 33-89258 on Form S-3, No. 33-270333 on Form S-8, No. 33-89260 on
Form S-8, and No. 33-97410 on Form S-3.

We also consent to the references to us under the caption "Experts" in the
Prospectuses.


                                                      BDO Seidman, LLP


New York, New York
April 30, 1999