The Lost Gutenberg: The astounding true story of one book's five hundred year odyssey

Description

'The remarkable tale of "Number 45", one of the finest copies of the Gutenberg Bible in existence . . . A fascinating story that touches on the origin of books, the passion of collectors, the unseen world of rare-book dealers, and the lives of the super-rich, past and present. A great read for any book lover.' --KIRKUS (starred review) For rare-book collectors, an original copy of the Gutenberg Bible--of which there are fewer than 50 in existence--represents the ultimate prize. In this brilliantly researched narrative, 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 heir to the Worcestershire sauce empire and a nuclear physicist to its ultimate resting place, a steel vault in Tokyo. 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. In exploring the rich and fascinating life of a single copy, Davis illuminates the origins and history of the mechanically printed book, and the extraordinary work of Johannes Gutenberg that changed our world. 'A gripping account of the importance of books as cultural artifacts and of one particular work that transformed the world.' --LIBRARY JOURNAL

Margaret Leslie Davis lives in California. She is the author of several previous award-winning narrative non-fiction books.