The Lost Gutenberg by Margaret Leslie Davis

The Lost Gutenberg by Margaret Leslie Davis

A lively tale of historical innovation, the thrill of the bibliophile's hunt, greed and betrayal. - The New York Times Book Review

An addictive and engaging look at the 'competitive, catty and slightly angst-ridden' heart of the world of book collecting. - The Houston Chronicle

The never-before-told story of one extremely rare copy of the Gutenberg Bible, and its impact on the lives of the fanatical few who were lucky enough to own it.

For rare-book collectors, an original copy of the Gutenberg Bible--of which there are fewer than 50 in existence--represents the ultimate prize. Here, Margaret Leslie Davis recounts five centuries in the life of one copy, from its creation by Johannes Gutenberg, through the hands of monks, an earl, the Worcestershire sauce king, and a nuclear physicist to its ultimate resting place, in a steel vault in Tokyo. Estelle Doheny, the first woman collector to add the book to her library and its last private owner, tipped the Bible onto a trajectory that forever changed our understanding of the first mechanically printed book.

The Lost Gutenberg draws readers into this incredible saga, immersing them in the lust for beauty, prestige, and knowledge that this rarest of books sparked in its owners. Exploring books as objects of obsession across centuries, this is a must-read for history buffs, book collectors, seekers of hidden treasures, and anyone who has ever craved a remarkable book--and its untold stories.

Margaret Leslie Davis is a graduate of Georgetown University and earned her master's in professional writing at the University of Southern California. Her award-winning books have been featured on Good Morning America and in the London Sunday Times and Vanity Fair. She has appeared on C-SPAN's Book TV and the History Channel's Modern Marvels, as well as on the Discovery Channel and A&E's Biography. An experienced and sought-after public speaker, Davis has delivered addresses at many prestigious forums, including the New York Public Library, the White House Historical Association, and the National Gallery of Art.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781592408672
ISBN 10	1592408672
Title	The Lost Gutenberg
Author	Margaret Leslie Davis
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Tarcherperigee
Year published	2019-03-19
Number of pages	304
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.