Literary Criticism - General & Miscellaneous, Consumer Industries - History - General & Miscellaneous, Literary Reference - Books & Reading, Collectible Books

Smithsonian Book of Books

Name: Smithsonian Book of Books
Author: Michael Olmert
ISBN: 9780895990303

by Michael Olmert, M. Olmert, Christopher De Hamel

Write a review

Overview

Through more than 300 glorious illustrations from library collections around the globe, you'll discover a wealth of book lore in these pages and gain a new appreciation for the role of books in human society, from our earliest attempts at writing and recording information to the newest electronic books; from sumptuous illuminated and bejeweled medieval manuscripts to Gutenberg and the invention of movable type; from the diverse arts and crafts of bookmaking to the building of magnificent libraries for housing treasured volumes; from the ancient epic of Gilgamesh to the plays of Shakespeare and the tales of Beatrix Potter; and from the earliest illustrated books to revolutionary science texts.

Accompanied by more than 300 illustrations, most in full color, The Smithsonian Book of Books presents the history, the art, and the influence of books through all ages and cultures. Beginning with the ancient origins of writing, Olmert revisits great works of religion, science, and literature. 338 illustrations, 311 in color.

Synopsis

Publishers Weekly

This copiously illustrated celebration of books and the printed word crams a wealth of information into 320 pages studded with 311 color plates. With infectious enthusiasm and an easy conversational flow, Olmert, who teaches Shakespeare at the University of Maryland, traces the history and influence of books from ancient Egyptian papyrus scrolls through Chinese movable type to the modern book fair. Sections cover a great diversity of topics: the origins of writing, medieval ledger books, the Gutenberg revolution, the Bible, Islamic books, Shakespeare's relationship to printing, Mother Goose and children's books, William Morris, the first great dictionaries and encyclopedias, the earthshaking tomes of Copernicus and Darwin, modern printing methods, the publishing industry. Illustrations feature Mayan codices, Indian miniatures, the earliest known Beowulf manuscript, Durer, Raphael, Audubon, Thomas Hart Benton, Ben Shahn, Maurice Sendak. A feast for booklovers, this volume affirms the power of books to change the world and our lives. (Sept.)

About the Author, Michael Olmert

Michael Olmert is the author of Milton's Teeth and Ovid's Umbrella. Christopher de Hamel is Donnelley Fellow Librarian, Corpus Christi College and former curator of Western and Oriental manuscripts at Sotheby's.

Reviews

There are no reviews yet. Log in to write one.

Editorials

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Library Journal

There is a common misconception about books which look good on coffee tables that they must be intellectually deficient and lacking in content. That premise certainly doesn't hold true for this enjoyable publication. Its scope is broad, for it includes information not only on the history of books but also on the evolution of the printing industry, libraries, medieval illumination and modern illustration, the book trade (including book fairs and bookstores), problems with bookworms (genus Anobium , not avid readers), and methods of conservation. The illustrations, most of which are in color, are taken from such sources as Pompeian walls, papyrus scrolls, medieval parchment and vellum manuscripts, woodcuts, frescoes, and panel paintings. If the author errs, it is in trying to present too much information and in sometimes failing to define terms adequately. Nonetheless, this is a fine addition to any library and should appeal especially to book collectors, librarians, and--because of its many illustrations--art historians and picture researchers.-- Margarete Gross, Chicago P.L.

Booknews

Some 350 illustrations (most in lovely color) were carefully selected for the rarity and interest of the objects they portray or represent. They combine well with the text in a volume that both surveys and embodies the art and science of bookmaking, engendering respect and fascination for all aspects of books--their production, history, and power. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Donna Seaman

"There are probably more books than any other human artifact on earth." "People have died for their contents." "There is something grand and positive about the idea of a library." Welcome to a gorgeously illustrated and unabashedly glowing tribute to books as both vehicles for thought and objects of beauty. The nearly 350 illustrations in this well-designed volume are mostly in color, and range from reproductions of art depicting people of all cultures throughout history reading, writing, and making books, to photographs of the latest in computerized print technology. Olmert's anecdotal commentary offers a fluid overview of the evolution of writing from ancient cuneiform tablets to elegant medieval manuscripts and the earliest printed books. He examines the spiritual power of books in discussions of the Bible and the Koran, states categorically that there would be no science without books, and even praises double-entry bookkeeping for incorporating books into everyday life. In celebrating the aesthetics and craft of typography and bookmaking, Olmert acknowledges the immense effect printing has had on language and applauds the ongoing vitality of dictionaries, book illustration, children's books, and libraries. This is a book to grace every library.