The Oxford Companion to the Book is a unique work of reference, covering the book, broadly conceived, throughout the world from ancient to modern times. It includes traditional subjects such as
bibliography, palaeography, the history of printing, editorial theory and practice, textual criticism, book collecting, and libraries, but it also engages with newer disciplines such as the
history of the book and the electronic book. It pays particular attention to how different societies shape books and how books shape societies.
The two-volume work is organized in two parts, totalling a million words. The first part is a substantial series of introductory essays, making up about a third of the text. Nineteen of the
essays provide generic histories of the subject ranging from writing systems, the ancient and the medieval book, through central aspects of book production, to theories of text, editorial
theory and textual criticism, the economics of print, and the sacred book. These are complemented by 29 surveys of the history of the book around the world, including the Muslim world, Asia,
Latin America, and Sub-Saharan Africa. The second part of the Companion comprises an A-Z section of over 5,000 entries on every aspect of this exceptionally rich and diverse subject, ranging
from brief definitions and biographical entries to more extensive treatments of up to 2,000 words. The two parts are linked by thorough cross-referencing (both The Oxford Companion to the Book
is the first reference work of its kind covering the broad concept of the book throughout the world from ancient to modern times. Along with such subjects such as bibliography, the history of
printing, editorial theory and practice, and textual criticism; it also engages with newer disciplines such as the history of the book and the electronic book. Additionally, the Companion
provides an engaging analysis of how books and societies have shaped one another. Written by the world's top scholars in bibliography and book history, the Companion is an authoritative and
highly informative work of reference for an international readership across a vast range of disciplines.
This unique two-volume work is organized into two parts. Part I is a substantial series of introductory essays. Nineteen of the essays provide histories of the subject ranging from writing
systems, the ancient and the medieval book, through central aspects of book production, to theories of text, editorial theory and textual criticism, the economics of print, and the sacred book.
These are complemented by 29 surveys of the history of the book around the world, including the Muslim world, Asia, Latin America, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Part II of the Companion comprises an
A to Z section of over 5,000 entries on every aspect of this exceptionally rich and diverse subject, ranging from brief definitions and biographical entries to more extensive treatments. Both
parts are richly illustrated with reproductions, diagrams, maps, and examples of various typographical features.
The Companion is the only reference book of its kind in the field. It has been written by 400 of the world's best scholars in bibliography and book history, and will have an international
readership. As appropriate to its subject matter, the finished book is designed to be both exceptionally practical and aesthetically pleasing.
