The Written World by Martin Puchner

The Written World by Martin Puchner

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Summary

The true story of literature -- of how writing changed civilizations, cultures and the history of the world.

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The Written World by Martin Puchner

From clay tablets to the printing press. From the pencil to the internet. From the Epic of Gilgamesh to Harry Potter. This is the true story of literature -- of how great texts and technologies have shaped cultures and civilizations and altered human history. The inventions of paper, the printing press and the world wide web are usually considered the major influences on the way we share stories. Less well known is the influence of Greek generals, Japanese court ladies, Spanish adventurers, Malian singers and American astronauts, and yet all of them played a crucial role in shaping and spreading literature as we know it today. The Written World tells the captivating story of the development of literature, where stories intersect with writing technologies like clay, stone, parchment, paper, printing presses and computers. Central to the development of religions, political movements and even nations, texts spread useful truths and frightening disinformation, and have the power to change lives. Through vivid storytelling and across a huge sweep of time, The Written World offers a new and enticing perspective on human history.
Martin Puchner holds the Byron and Anita Wien Chair in Drama, English and Comparative Literature at Harvard University. He has published over a dozen books, collections, and anthologies, and is the general editor of the six volume Norton Anthology of World Literature, used by students worldwide. He has written for the London Review of Books, Raritan Review, Bookforum and N+1.
SKU Unavailable
ISBN 13 9781783783144
ISBN 10 1783783141
Title The Written World
Author Martin Puchner
Condition Unavailable
Binding Type Paperback
Publisher Granta Books
Year published 2018-07-05
Number of pages 432
Cover note Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.