---

We may love books, but do we know what lies behind them? Sure to delight book lovers of all stripes with its lush, full-colour illustrations, The Book gives us the fascinating history behind humanitys most important and universal information technology.

---

In The Book, Keith Houston reveals that the paper, ink, thread, glue and board from which a book is made tell as rich a story as the words on its pagesof civilisations, empires, human ingenuity and madness. In an invitingly tactile history of this 2,000 year-old medium, Houston follows the development of writing, printing, the art of illustrations, and binding to show how we have moved from cuneiform tablets and papyrus scrolls to the hardcovers and paperbacks of today. Sure to delight book lovers of all stripes with its lush, full-colour illustrations, The Book gives us the momentous and surprising history behind humanitys most important - and universal - information technology.

---

Keith Houston is the author of Shady Characters and the founder of shadycharacters.co.uk.

---