{"title":"Michael Visontay","description":"\u003cp\u003eDiscover the captivating works of \u003cem\u003eMichael Visontay\u003c\/em\u003e, an esteemed author known for his insightful contributions to the genres of history and military. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for uncovering hidden narratives, Visontay creates compelling narratives that both educate and engage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the standout works in his collection is \u003cstrong\u003eNoble Fragments\u003c\/strong\u003e. This book offers readers an opportunity to delve into the intricacies of history through expertly woven tales that highlight lesser-known yet significant events and figures. Visontay's ability to bring historical events to life on the page makes his work a valuable resource for both history enthusiasts and casual readers alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eExplore Michael Visontay's collection to experience how he combines rigorous research with a narrative flair, ensuring that every book serves as a gateway to understanding complex historical periods and military events in a new light.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"noble-fragments-by-michael-visontay-9781761380822","title":"Noble Fragments","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne hundred years ago, Gabriel Wells, a New York bookseller, committed a crime against history. He broke up the world's greatest book, the Gutenberg Bible, and sold it off in individual pages. This is the story of an Australian man's hunt for those fragments and his family's debt to an act of literary vandalism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1921, Wells's audacity scandalised the rare-book world. The Gutenberg was the first substantial book in Europe to have been printed on a printing press. It represented the democratisation of knowledge and was the Holy Grail of rare books.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWas the break-up a sacrilege or a canny deal? New Yorkers were divided. For every frown of disapproval, there was a lick of the lips. It was the Roaring Twenties, the Gatsby era of fabulous wealth. Tycoons were in a feeding frenzy to acquire items that would demonstrate their refinement. Wells marketed the pages as \u003cem\u003eNoble Fragments\u003c\/em\u003e, they sold like hot cakes, and he died a rich man.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHalf a century later, Sydney journalist Michael Visontay stumbled upon a mysterious legal document that linked Wells to his own family. He became obsessed by the Gutenberg's invisible imprint on his life and set out to track down the pages of the broken bible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePart detective story and part memoir, \u003cem\u003eNoble Fragments\u003c\/em\u003e is an expedition into the arcane world of book collectors and their eccentric passions, and a journey of discovery about how Wells's gamble set off a chain of events that changed a family's destiny.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'A brilliant writer discovers a gripping personal story. Serendipity at its best.'\u003c\/em\u003e – Jane Caro\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'A riveting hunt for the mysterious leaves of a book perched in the branches of a family tree. Proof that epic sagas are rooted in life's most intimate details. I was hooked from the start.'\u003c\/em\u003e – Marc Fennell\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'Michael Visontay has written a truly original book – a family memoir that also excavates the cutthroat business world of the rare book trade in New York in the early 20th century... Parts of it read like a thriller, while the humanity beating through other sections brought me to tears.'\u003c\/em\u003e – Bridie Jabour, The Guardian\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46338686124268,"sku":"9781761380822","price":41.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/3109373482815.jpg?v=1743742480"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/michael-visontay.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}