Papyrus cover art

Papyrus

The Invention of Books in the Ancient World

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Papyrus

By: Irene Vallejo
Narrated by: Sophie Roberts
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About this listen

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.

©2022 Irene Vallejo (P)2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited Ancient History History & Culture Literary History & Criticism Ancient History Middle East Technology Middle Ages Imperialism Ancient Greece War

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All stars
Most relevant  
Beautifully written and researched. It is truly inspiring and fascinating and it was also wonderfully narrated.

Beautifully written

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Irene Vallejo takes us on a riveting journey through history not only of the book and its precedents but of writing, ideas, culture and more. She tells us the stories of the people at the heart of this evolution in such eloquent prose and deceptively simple language that you feel you want to sit at her feet forever, listening and learning. She interweaves the story of her own passion for reading and books. She is more than ably supported by an excellent translation by Charlotte Whittle and a beautiful narration by Sophie Roberts both seeming to capture the naturalness of Vallejo's writing. I cannot wait for her next book!

Irene Vallejo's Tour de Force

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A journey through time and space, this book is full of fascinating facts and stories. They are all part of what we think about ourselves, our history and society. I wish I could remember more, I think I need a physical copy to mark my favourite chapters.

Fascinating story of thousand stories

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I learnt so much. This was fantastically researched and beautifully performed. Reminds you why books are so important

Excellent & fascinating

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A little long in places but an incredibly interesting and well translated book, which was thoroughly enjoyable

Very impressive

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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.

It’s not just about books!

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