The Book
has been on sale for a few weeks now and so I thought I’d collect some of the articles published in connection with it, both by me and by others.
First, I posted here a series of articles about some of the aspects of bookmaking that I learned about while researching The Book. Here they are:
- Booking It № 1: Making Paper with Chrissie Heughan
- Booking It № 2: Woodcut Printing at the Lavender Print School
- Booking It № 3: Movable Type at Robert Smail’s Printing Works
Keep an eye out here; there may be more in future.
Elsewhere, I contributed an article to I Love Typography entitled “The Prints and the Pauper”. It’s excerpted from a longer chapter on movable type and it tells the story of printing in China — and just how much Gutenberg owes to the Chinese printers that came before him. I also wrote for BBC Culture, discussing the origins of the paged book, and the parallels between the transition from scroll to book in the ancient world and today’s shift from book to ebook. More articles are on the way.
This time round I also did a few interviews. I chatted to Russell Leadbetter of The Herald; newstalk.fm’s Moncrieff show; and Lynn Freeman of RNZ’s Nine to Noon. And if the sound of my voice hasn’t put you off, again, there are more on the way!
Separately, I must say thanks to all the readers who have bought copies of The Book and who have got in touch via the comments or the Contact page. It means a lot to hear that you’re enjoying the book, so thank you very much!
Comment posted by Robert Higginbotham on
I have finished reading The Book.
I have now passed it on to my son-in-law (who, by the way) has a T-Shirt that reads, “I Love Typography.”
I expect it back.
Mr. Houston: Are you familiar with Hatch Show Prints here in Nashville, Tennessee?
Comment posted by Keith Houston on
Hi Robert — thanks for the comment! I hope you enjoyed The Book.
I wasn’t aware of Hatch Show Prints, but it looks like an interesting place. I’ll have to stop by if I’m ever in Nashville.