'Brilliantly-observed detail. Her characters are engaging, the world as beautifully crafted as one of Gutenberg's hot-metal letters, and the themes more relevant now than ever' Naomi Alderman, author of The Power A gripping historical novel that brings tumultuous medieval Europe to life. Not to be missed by readers of Hilary Mantel, Peter Ackroyd and C. J. Sansom. Johann Gutenberg's first printed Bibles amazed and shocked medieval Europe. He had started a revolution that would one day put books in the hands of any man or ...
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'Brilliantly-observed detail. Her characters are engaging, the world as beautifully crafted as one of Gutenberg's hot-metal letters, and the themes more relevant now than ever' Naomi Alderman, author of The Power A gripping historical novel that brings tumultuous medieval Europe to life. Not to be missed by readers of Hilary Mantel, Peter Ackroyd and C. J. Sansom. Johann Gutenberg's first printed Bibles amazed and shocked medieval Europe. He had started a revolution that would one day put books in the hands of any man or woman who wanted them. The project was fraught with danger, for it threatened the power of politicians and the Catholic church. Who was this Gutenberg? In Alix Christie's evocative and compelling novel, he comes vividly to life - driven, caustic and ruthless. Behind him stands a brilliant young scribe, Peter Schoeffer, whose genius is to stay true to his artistic values in the cauldron of the printer's workshop. Caught between the old ways and the new, the two men struggle with one another and the world outside to prevail against overwhelming obstacles... and change history. 'A lovely piece of work: finely researched and beautifully, atmospherically, written' Sarah Dunant A semifinalist for the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award.
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A printer herself, Ms. Christie strikingly recreates the events and setting in which the driven and gifted Johann Gutenberg and his collaborating craftsmen and entrepreneurs not only devised and refined the essentials of modern printing, but laid the groundwork for today's book publishing industry. From designing and casting the type, concocting a suitable ink and preparing the parchment and paper, to the backbreaking labor of the operating the massive press, through the eyes and hearts of superbly rounded historical characters Ms. Christie invokes the spirit of medieval Germany and emergent Europe to capture the monumental drama of making Gutenberg's magnificent Bible. Love books? You'll be moved by this masterly account of their origins.
