A History of the Book in 100 Books - Hardcover

The ebook age has taken 'the book' to a turning point. But in fact, casting off old technologies and taking on new ones has been part of the history of the book since Egyptian times. At this crucial time for the future of books as we know them today, this volume tells the story of the book from the very beginning: From inscriptions on tombs to the first writings on papyrus; how scrolls gave way to the first bound 'codex' books in Roman times; from exclusive and expensive hand-scribed books, to the creation of movable type, and the invention of printing for the masses; and from the printed book to the digital book, the ebook reader...and beyond. Illustrating this story with lavish photography of some of the most treasured artefacts from the world's historic collections, A History of the Book in 100 Books traces mankind's very long quest to communicate ideas and knowledge.

Roderick Cave is a printing historian and former library educator. His books include The Private Press (first published in 1971) and Impressions of Nature, a History of Nature Printing (British Library, 2010). Sara Ayad is an art historian