NDLI: The Story of Books

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I. Introductory, II. The Preservation of Literature

III. Books and Libraries in Classical Times, IV. Books in Mediaeval Times

V. Libraries in Mediaeval Times

VI. The Beginning of Printing, VII. Who Invented Moveable Types?

VIII. Gutenberg and the Mentz Press, IX. Early Printing

X. Early Printing in Italy and some other Countries, XI. Early Printing in England

XII. Early Printing in Scotland, XIII. Early Printing in Ireland

XIV. Book Bindings, XV. How a Modern Book is Produced, Postscript

The Story of Books

Content Provider	Librivox
Author	Rawlings, Gertrude Burford
Abstract	Rawlings follows the development of printing from the origins of writing to modern printing. Some of the earliest records are ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman recordings on papyrus and wax tablets. However, Rawlings acknowledges the sparse nature of this first fragile evidence, and limits speculation. Later, libraries of religious books grew in Europe, where monks copied individual books in monasteries. The "block printing" technique began with illustrations carved in wood blocks, while the text needed to be written by hand. Eventually, entire pages were printed as combinations of illustrations with text. The Biblia Pauperum, or “Bible of the Poor,” demonstrates this first time saving method. Later chapters focus on printing developing as an industry, especially after the invention of movable type. Two inventors are contested as the first inventor, Johann Gutenberg of Mentz in Germany, and Laurenz Coster of Haarlem in Holland. Rawlings describes the evidence for each side, along with stories and legends that grow around their names. Since many of the medieval books were meant to be admired as art by the illiterate majority and read only by an educated minority, copiers spent much time decorating manuscripts. Also, these highly decorated volumes needed to be protected. Here, Rawlings describes the techniques for binding and beautifying books. Arriving closer to the present day, Rawlings describes a few modern printing techniques that bring mass produced and cheap books to the now literate public. (Summary by LivelyHive)
Related Links	http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/33413 http://www.archive.org/details/story_books_lh_librivox
File Size	147661
Language	English
Requires	HTML5 supported browser
Access Restriction	Open
Subject Keyword	nonfiction history
Content Type	Audio
Resource Type	Audiobook

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