Books A Living History
Books A Living History by Martyn Lyons, published by Thames & Hudson in 2013, offers a comprehensive exploration of the evolution of the book over more than two and a half millennia. This 224-page volume delves into the various forms of books, documenting their role in education, entertainment, and record-keeping. Lyons examines the journey from ancient Sumerian cuneiform tablets to the modern information revolution, highlighting significant milestones in book history.
Readers will find a rich array of illustrations, including Mayan codices, Egyptian papyrus scrolls, and medieval illuminated manuscripts, alongside notable early printed works by figures such as Gutenberg. The book also covers a diverse range of literary forms, from classic fiction like Don Quixote to contemporary innovations like the world’s first ‘digi-novel.’ In an era where the future of printed books is often questioned, this work emphasizes the lasting significance and transformative power of books throughout history.
Official synopsis Publisher
For more than two and a half thousand years, the book, in a wide range of forms, has been used to document, to educate and to entertain.
The eminent authority Martyn Lyons charts the worldwide evolution of the book through the centuries, from the cuneiform tablets of ancient Sumer through the development of moveable type and the emergence of the modern information revolution. Among the carefully selected illustrations in this tome are Mayan codices, Egyptian papyrus scrolls, medieval illuminated manuscripts, masterpieces of early printing from Gutenberg and Aldus Manutius, atlases from the great age of travel and exploration, primers and children’s books, dime novels and Japanese manga, and works of fiction ranging from Don Quixote to Level 26, the world’s first ‘digi-novel’, and beyond.
At a time when daily headlines widely predict the death of the printed book, this volume celebrates the book’s enduring power and magic, whatever its future form may be.
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