Papyrus: The No 1 International Bestseller

Papyrus is a 6,000-year journey through the history of books and reading, tracing the story of the book from oral tradition to scrolls to codices and how that transition laid the foundation of Western culture. It is a story full of heroic adventures, bloodshed, and megalomania, from the battlefields of Alexander the Great to the libraries of war-torn Sarajevo and Oxford.

Format: Hardback
Length: 464 pages
Publication date: 01 November 2022
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

The captivating 6,000-year journey through the history of books and reading has been hailed as a groundbreaking phenomenon by esteemed publications such as the Financial Times, Economist, and Mail on Sunday. Recognized as a literary phenomenon, this remarkable work has garnered widespread praise from critics around the world. The New York Times describes it as "outstanding, universal, and unique," while the TLS hails it as "masterly." The Economist marvels at its "mindboggling" insights, and the Telegraph praises it as "long before books were mass-produced, scrolls hand copied on reeds pulled from the Nile were the treasures of the ancient world."

In her captivating book, Papyrus, celebrated classicist Irene Vallejo delves into the dramatic history of the book and the ongoing struggle to preserve it. This captivating narrative spans from the oral traditions of ancient times to the scrolls and codices that shaped Western culture. It is a tale filled with heroic adventures, bloodshed, and megalomania, taking readers from the battlefields of Alexander the Great to the palaces of Cleopatra, and from the libraries of war-torn Sarajevo to the hallowed halls of Oxford.

Papyrus has achieved international acclaim as a bestseller, transporting readers back to the ancient world and celebrating the enduring power of the written word. Through meticulous research and vivid storytelling, Vallejo brings the ancient world to life, offering a profound appreciation for the role that books have played in shaping our world. This remarkable work serves as a testament to the human spirit's enduring quest for knowledge, creativity, and communication.

Weight: 698g
Dimension: 166 x 239 x 43 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529343960