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. 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 5,000-year quest to communicate ideas and knowledge.

Author Biography

Roderick Cave has worked with rare book collections and in developing information science courses in libraries and universities in the Americas, Australasia, and East Asia as well as in Britain. A print historian and librarian for many years, Cave was formerly a UNESCO consultant on course development, and introduced new programmes on information services. He has advised on book history at several American universities and museums, as well as being a consultant at the British library, which has published three of his recent books.