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Speaking Volumes

Books with Histories
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Speaking Volumes by David Pearson explores the evolution of books and libraries throughout history, highlighting their impact on society and culture. The book delves into the ways printed materials have shaped human knowledge and the preservation of literary heritage over centuries. Through historical analysis, it also examines how the role of books continues to change in the digital age.
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Format: Hardback
$8999
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

If you're fascinated by the art of communication throughout history and enjoy exploring how military strategies have been influenced by the power of the spoken and written word, you might find this book especially intriguing. David Pearson's work provides a rich tapestry of insights into the interplay between historical events and the eloquence that helped shape them.

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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 feedback is welcome! 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.

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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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