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gracecrandall's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
slim_oysterhiatus's review
4.0
By focusing on Vespasiano, an unlikely but immensely successful and influential Florentine bookseller, Ross King tells the tale of the rediscovery of classical works in the renaissance, how humanists reconciled pagan writers with Christian ideals, the whole process of creating manuscripts (searching for exemplars, rating translations, ink recipes, quill maintenance, parchment sourcing, hiring scribes and illuminators, binding, and selling), and the changing role and value of manuscripts following the introduction of print books. Further complicating the story are the precariously balanced politics of southern Europe, conflict with the Muslim world, and the influence of the Pope and tensions within the church.
Non-fiction written in bright, often dryly humorous prose, this manages to be exhaustive but never tedious.
Non-fiction written in bright, often dryly humorous prose, this manages to be exhaustive but never tedious.
mugglemom's review
4.0
Don't recommend the audiobook - the narrator is flat and almost monotone. I can't imagine anyone listening at 1.0 speed, I barely was able to stay awake for his narration at 1.75 speed. Please, publishers/author - redo this audiobook with the awesome Edoardo Ballerini.
But for history buffs, book lovers, and library lovers this book will be fascinating on so many levels. There are some rabbit trails that will be explored, such as the sex lives of monks and nuns but it all comes back to the point of how very lucky we are to have any books from the past.
But for history buffs, book lovers, and library lovers this book will be fascinating on so many levels. There are some rabbit trails that will be explored, such as the sex lives of monks and nuns but it all comes back to the point of how very lucky we are to have any books from the past.
reachant's review against another edition
3.0
The historical content of this book and the research that must have taken are phenomenal, but I agree with one other reviewer who said the author did so much research he just needed to add it all into the book. I picked up this book because I wanted to understand the social/cultural disruption caused by the printing press, and I got that. I also really loved learning about this little known, but in the world of books in 1400's Europe, a giant in his field. Vespasiano was a humble, apolitical, lover of the illuminated manuscript, who was known throughout Europe for his ability to procure and produce beautiful books. If nothing else, it made me feel so lucky to live in an age where books are so accessible.