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Papyrus
- The Invention of Books in the Ancient World
- Narrated by: Sophie Roberts
- Length: 17 hrs and 28 mins
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Papyrus
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Summary
THE MILLION-COPY BESTSELLER
A FINANCIAL TIMES, ECONOMIST AND MAIL ON SUNDAY BOOK OF THE YEAR
An enthralling 6,000-year journey through the history of books and reading
Long before books were mass-produced, scrolls hand copied on reeds pulled from the Nile were the treasures of the ancient world. Emperors and Pharaohs were so determined to possess them that they dispatched emissaries to the edges of the earth to bring them back.
In Papyrus, celebrated classicist Irene Vallejo traces the dramatic history of the book and the fight for its survival. This is the story of the book's journey from oral tradition to scrolls to codices, and how that transition laid the very foundation of Western culture. And it is a story full of heroic adventures, bloodshed and megalomania - from the battlefields of Alexander the Great and the palaces of Cleopatra to the libraries of war-torn Sarajevo and Oxford.
An international bestseller, Papyrus brings the ancient world to life and celebrates the enduring power of the written word.
What listeners say about Papyrus
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- T
- 19-02-23
Excellent & fascinating
I learnt so much. This was fantastically researched and beautifully performed. Reminds you why books are so important
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Daniela Barani
- 31-12-22
Beautifully written
Beautifully written and researched. It is truly inspiring and fascinating and it was also wonderfully narrated.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Ben G.
- 14-01-23
Very impressive
A little long in places but an incredibly interesting and well translated book, which was thoroughly enjoyable
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mr King
- 26-12-22
It’s not just about books!
A fascinating narrative that weaves history around so many different areas of human experience. Art, politics, war, society, what it means to be free and how that is expressed. It wasn’t just a collection of anecdotes, but a careful layering of information and perspectives over millennia. A compelling and stimulating story.
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