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Speaking Volumes
Books with Histories
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
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Description
Every individual book has a history which can help us to understand what difference it may have made in the world. Within these pages you will find books damaged by bullets or graffiti, recovered from fire or water, or even disguised as completely different texts for protection in dangerous times.
Marks of ownership—be it a rich treasure binding or a humble family inscription—shine a light on social history and literacy, while student doodles from the sixteenth century and a variety of pithy annotations give us a sense of readers through the ages.
We increasingly recognise that the cultural and research value of books lies not just in their printed contents, but in the many other things they can tell us about the ways they have been used, read and regarded.
Generously illustrated with examples from the early Middle Ages to the present day, Speaking Volumes presents a fascinating selection of books in both public and private collections whose individual histories tell surprising and illuminating stories, encouraging us to look at and appreciate books in new and non-traditional ways.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Speaking Volumes offers a thorough exploration of the history of books, praised for being both engaging and informative. Readers find it enjoyable, appreciating its depth of information about the development and influence of books throughout history.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781851245628
Publisher: Bodleian Library
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 04 November 2022
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Bodleian Library
Illustration: 180 Illustrations, color
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 190.0mm
Height: 245.0mm
Weight: 1112g
Pages: 240
About the Author
David Pearson is a leading expert on the history of books, after a lifetime spent working with them, writing about them and owning them. His previous books include Provenance Research in Book History (new edition, Bodleian Library Publishing, 2019) and Book Ownership in Stuart England (Oxford University Press, 2021).
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