Books: Their History, Art, Power, Glory, Infamy and Suffering According to Their Creators, Friends and Enemies

"What is the origin of the word 'book?' the world's largest book? the most expensive? the symptoms of and treatment for bibliomania? The answers to these and hundreds of other fascinating queries are in 'Books,' George Donaldson's lighthearted and ingenious tour of books and book people through the years. Culled from a dazzling variety of sources, 'Books' leaves no page unturned, from Marc Antony's gift to Cleopatra of 200,000 volumes for the fabled library at Alexandria to the strangest titles of 1980 (how about 'Do-It-Yourself Brain Surgery'?), from the most flowery dedication to some startling index entries ('Elections: See Bribery'). You will learn more about the Bible and the English dictionary ('the most interesting book in our language'), about books banned and burned, cherished and preserved. Beautifully illustrated thoughout, 'Books' depicts book treasures and calamities, and the men and women whose lives centered around books. It is full of facts and statistics on bookselling, bookbinding, bookmarks, and bookworms (both kinds). It uncovers forgeries and plagiarisms and examines books as rivals in love and even as agents of destruction." -- Book jacket.