Papyrus
The Invention of Books in the Ancient World
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group · Print & ebook · October 18, 2022
A "masterly" (Economist), prize-winning, internationally bestselling history of books in the ancient world "Exquisite. . . .
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- Who it’s for
- A lively history of the written word, told through stories, classical readings, and personal reflection.
- Themes
- History of books, Survival of the written word, Language and civilization
- Pacing
- Mixed
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A "masterly" (Economist), prize-winning, internationally bestselling history of books in the ancient world "Exquisite. . . . Beautifully translated into English by Charlotte Whittle, who is able to convey both Vallejo’s passionate narrative presence and her synthesising intelligence.” —The Guardian Long before books were mass-produced, hand-copied scrolls made from Nile River reeds were the treasures of the ancient world.
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Emperors and pharaohs, determined to possess them, dispatched emissaries to the edges of the known world to bring them back. Exploring the deep and fascinating history of the written word, from the oral tradition to scrolls to codices, internationally bestselling author Irene Vallejo shows that books have always been a precious and precarious vehicle for civilization. Through fascinating stories from history, insightful readings of the classics, and poignant personal reflection, Vallejo traces the dramatic history of the book and the fight for its survival. At its heart a spirited love letter to language itself, Papyrus takes readers on a journey across the centuries to discover how a simple reed grown along the banks of the Nile would give birth to a rich and cherished culture.
Books Through Time
A lively history of the written word, told through stories, classical readings, and personal reflection.
Come here for
- Follow books from oral tradition and scrolls to codices
- See why written words have long been precious and precarious
Expect
- Ancient history braided with a spirited love of language
- Stories, classical readings, and personal reflection across centuries
Where it sits
| Ancient History | 51% |
|---|---|
| Ancient Egypt | 46% |
| Ancient & Classical Literary Criticism | 42% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Ancient Egypt
- Exploration & Discovery
- Social History
- Authors
- Irene Vallejo
- Publisher
- Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
- Published
- October 18, 2022
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Theme
- History of books · Survival of the written word · Language and civilization
- Reading lane
- Ancient Egypt