Index, A History of the

The back of the book is where you go to look things up, but it's also where you can find an unlikely realm of ambition and obsession, sparring and politicking, pleasure and play. This is the secret world of the index, an unsung but extraordinary everyday tool with an illustrious but little-known past. Dennis Duncan reveals how the index has saved heretics from the stake, kept politicians from high office, and made us all into the readers we are today.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 02 September 2021
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

The back of a book is often overlooked, but it holds a fascinating world of ambition, obsession, and intrigue. From the monasteries and universities of thirteenth-century Europe to Silicon Valley in the twenty-first century, the index has played a crucial role in shaping our literary and intellectual culture. In his book, "The Secret World of the Index: An Unsung but Extraordinary Everyday Tool," Dennis Duncan explores the history and significance of the index, revealing how it has saved heretics from the stake, kept politicians from high office, and made us all into readers.

Duncan takes us on a journey through German print shops, Enlightenment coffee houses, novelists' living rooms, university laboratories, and more, encountering emperors, popes, philosophers, prime ministers, poets, librarians, and indexers along the way. He reveals the vast role that the index has played in our evolving literary and intellectual culture, and how it has shaped our reading habits and preferences.

One of the most interesting aspects of the index is its ability to capture the zeitgeist of a particular time and place. Duncan shows how the index has evolved over centuries, from simple lists of words to complex systems that reflect the changing nature of literature and knowledge. He also discusses the challenges that indexers face, such as keeping up with new technologies and the increasing amount of information available.

Despite its importance, the index has been largely ignored by scholars and historians. Duncan hopes that his book will change that, and bring the index back into the spotlight. He argues that the index is a valuable tool for researchers and scholars, and that it can provide insights into the social, cultural, and intellectual history of a particular time and place.

In conclusion, "The Secret World of the Index: An Unsung but Extraordinary Everyday Tool" is a fascinating and enlightening book that sheds light on the hidden world of the index. Duncan's engaging writing style and extensive research make it accessible to anyone interested in literature, history, and the power of information. Whether you are a book lover or a scholar, this book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the role that the index has played in shaping our world.

Weight: 562g
Dimension: 164 x 240 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780241374238