Books Before Print [Paperback]

This beautifully illustrated book provides an accessible introduction to the medieval manuscript and what it can tell us about the world in which it was made and used. Books Before Print explores how manuscripts can act as a vibrant and versatile tool to understand the deep historical roots of human interaction with written information. It highlights extraordinary continuities between medieval book culture and modern-world communication, as witnessed in medieval pop-up books, posters, speech bubbles, book advertisements, and even sticky notes.This beautifully illustrated book provides an accessible introduction to the medieval manuscript and what it can tell us about the world in which it was made and used. Books Before Print explores how manuscripts can act as a vibrant and versatile tool to understand the deep historical roots of human interaction with written information. It highlights extraordinary continuities between medieval book culture and modern-world communication, as witnessed in medieval pop-up books, posters, speech bubbles, book advertisements, and even sticky notes.General Introduction Filling the Page: Script, Writing, and Page Design Introduction 1. Medieval Script 2. Cracking Codes: Abbreviations in Medieval Script 3. The Empty Part of the Page 4. Footnotes Before Print 5. The First Page of the Manuscript 6. The Last Page of the Manuscript Enhancing the Manuscript: Binding and Decoration Introduction 7. Dressing Up the Manuscript 8. Hugging a Manuscript 9. Judging a Book by its Cover 10. Mary Had a Little Book 11. Drawing with Words 12. Speech Bubbles 13. Model Books Reading in Context: Annotations, Bookmarks, and Libraries Introduction 14. Getting Personal in the Margin 15. Helping Hands on the Page 16. Smart Bookmarks 17. Location, Location 18. Combating Book Theft The Margins of Manuscript Culture Introduction 19. The Incredible Expandable Book 20. Books on a Diet 21. Books on a Stick 22. Slips, Strips, and Scraps: Messaging 23. Slips, Stl£0