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Papyrus
- The Invention of Books in the Ancient World
- Narrated by: Sophie Roberts
- Length: 17 hrs and 28 mins
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Publisher's Summary
THE MILLION-COPY BESTSELLER
A FINANCIAL TIMES, ECONOMIST AND MAIL ON SUNDAY BOOK OF THE YEAR
An enthralling 6,000-year journey through the history of books and reading
Long before books were mass-produced, scrolls hand copied on reeds pulled from the Nile were the treasures of the ancient world. Emperors and Pharaohs were so determined to possess them that they dispatched emissaries to the edges of the earth to bring them back.
In Papyrus, celebrated classicist Irene Vallejo traces the dramatic history of the book and the fight for its survival. This is the story of the book's journey from oral tradition to scrolls to codices, and how that transition laid the very foundation of Western culture. And it is a story full of heroic adventures, bloodshed and megalomania - from the battlefields of Alexander the Great and the palaces of Cleopatra to the libraries of war-torn Sarajevo and Oxford.
An international bestseller, Papyrus brings the ancient world to life and celebrates the enduring power of the written word.
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What listeners say about Papyrus
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Deirdre E Siegel
- 15-03-2023
Paper
Yay for Papyrus, the original pulp for non-fiction.
This book gives you a history of paper from the depth and breadth of civilizations long gone.
Fun plant to print information in no nonsense language for all who enjoy reading a great book.
Thank you for your knowledge in words Irene Vellejo and Sophie Roberts your eloquence, much appreciated. :-)
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- Daniel Kearns
- 18-02-2023
Brilliant beyond imagining
When I began this book I was instantly overwhelmed by the breath and brilliance of the account of writing, writers, and… history. Extremely enjoyable and a book I also want to read.
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- Dejan Krstevski
- 25-03-2023
A soporific and uninteresting read
Misleading title. Should have been: Historical figures' favourite reads from the ancient world to modern history
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