Nicholas A. Basbanes ist ein preisgekrönter investigativer Journalist und war Literarischer Redakteur des Worcester Sunday Telegram. Seine Artikel erschienen in der New York Times, der Los Angeles Times, der Washington Post und Smithsonian. Basbanes ist Empfänger eines Stipendiums des National Endowment for the Humanities und lebt in North Grafton, Massachusetts.
Focusing on the vibrant culture surrounding books and bibliophiles, this work concludes Nicholas A. Basbanes' celebrated trilogy that began with A Gentle Madness. Through rich anecdotes and engaging storytelling, Basbanes highlights the lives of book lovers and the significance of literature in society. Esteemed by notable figures like David McCullough, this edition encapsulates the essence of the book world, offering readers a compelling look at the passion and dedication of those who cherish the written word.
In his national bestseller, A Gentle Madness, Nicholas Basbanes explored the sweet obsession people feel to possess books. Now, Basbanes continues his adventures among the “gently mad” on an irresistible journey to the great libraries of the past—from Alexandria to Glastonbury—and to contemporary collections at the Vatican, Wolfenbüttel, and erudite universities. Along the way, he drops in on eccentric book dealers and regales us with stories about unforgettable collectors, such as the gentleman who bought a rare book in 1939 “by selling bottles of his own blood.”Taking the book’s grand title from the marble lions guarding the New York Public Library at 42nd Street, Basbanes both entertains and delights. And once again, as Scott Turow aptly noted, “Basbanes makes you love books, the collections he writes about, and the volume in your hand.”
Inspired by a landmark exhibition mounted by the British Museum in 1963 to
celebrate five eventful centuries of the printed word, this book offers a
consideration of writings that have made things happen in the world, works
that have both nudged the course of history and fired the imagination of
countless influential people.
A Best Book of the Year: Mother Jones • Bloomberg News • National Post • Kirkus In these pages, Nicholas Basbanes—the consummate bibliophile’s bibliophile—shows how paper has been civilization’s constant companion. It preserves our history and gives record to our very finest literary, cultural, and scientific accomplishments. Since its invention in China nearly two millennia ago, the technology of paper has spread throughout the inhabited world. With deep knowledge and care, Basbanes traces paper’s trail from the earliest handmade sheets to the modern-day mills. Paper, yoked to politics, has played a crucial role in the unfolding of landmark events, from the American Revolution to Daniel Ellsberg’s Pentagon Papers to the aftermath of 9/11. Without paper, modern hygienic practice would be unimaginable; as currency, people will do almost anything to possess it; and, as a tool of expression, it is inextricable from human culture. Lavishly researched, compellingly written, this masterful guide illuminates paper’s endless possibilities.
