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The Book: A Cover-to-Cover Exploration of the Most Powerful Object of Our Time - Hardcover

Keith Houston

 
9780393244793: The Book: A Cover-to-Cover Exploration of the Most Powerful Object of Our Time
Hardcover
ISBN 10: 0393244792 ISBN 13: 9780393244793
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company, 2016

Synopsis

"If you're looking for a definitive history of the printed book, this is it." The Belfast Telegraph

In The Book, Keith Houston reveals that the paper, ink, thread, glue and board from which a book is made tell as rich a story as the words on its pages-of civilisations, empires, human ingenuity and madness. In an invitingly tactile history of this 2,000 year-old medium, Houston follows the development of writing, printing, the art of illustrations, and binding to show how we have moved from cuneiform tablets and papyrus scrolls to the hardcovers and paperbacks of today. Sure to delight book lovers of all stripes with its lush, full-colour illustrations, The Book gives us the momentous and surprising history behind humanity's most important-and universal-information technology.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author

Keith Houston is the author of Shady Characters and the founder of shadycharacters.co.uk. He lives in London.

From the Back Cover

In an invitingly tactile history of this 2,000 year-old medium, Houston follows the development of writing, printing, the art of illustrations, and binding to show how we have moved from cuneiform tablets and papyrus scrolls to the hardcovers and paperbacks of today. Sure to delight book lovers of all stripes with its lush, full-colour illustrations, The Book gives us the momentous and surprising history behind humanity's most important-and universal-information technology. Praise for Shady Characters: "Punctuation is not a mere ornament or a curiosity-it is essential, and we need to know about it. Keith Houston's history is entertaining and readable."-The Guardian "Engaging typographical journeys...Houston brings to life a history of ingenuity and imagination."-The Times "[S]cholarly, highly readable and, on some deeper level, slightly deranged."-The Spectator "Refreshing...the stories he uncovers along the way are fascinating." -The Telegraph "Shady Characters might make you look at books...in an entirely new way."-Nature

From the Inside Flap

In an invitingly tactile history of this 2,000 year-old medium, Houston follows the development of writing, printing, the art of illustrations, and binding to show how we have moved from cuneiform tablets and papyrus scrolls to the hardcovers and paperbacks of today. Sure to delight book lovers of all stripes with its lush, full-colour illustrations, The Book gives us the momentous and surprising history behind humanity's most important-and universal-information technology. Praise for Shady Characters: "Punctuation is not a mere ornament or a curiosity-it is essential, and we need to know about it. Keith Houston's history is entertaining and readable."-The Guardian "Engaging typographical journeys...Houston brings to life a history of ingenuity and imagination."-The Times "[S]cholarly, highly readable and, on some deeper level, slightly deranged."-The Spectator "Refreshing...the stories he uncovers along the way are fascinating." -The Telegraph "Shady Characters might make you look at books...in an entirely new way."-Nature

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Publisher
W. W. Norton & Company
Publication date
2016
Language
English
ISBN 10 
0393244792
ISBN 13 
9780393244793
Binding
Hardcover
Edition number
1
Number of pages
448