Overview

Steven Roger Fischer's fascinating book traces the complete story of reading from the time when symbol first became sign through to the electronic texts of the present day. A broad, accessible history which assesses the future of reading and examines the impact of computers and the internet, as well as modern theories of how reading is processed by the brain.

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9781861892096

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Reviews

'Of the three volumes in Steven Roger Fischer's hugely ambitious and sedulously executed trilogy, the first two dealt with language and writing. This one, however, is the most suggestive and open, dedicated not only to the technicalities of his subject but to the everyday experience of communication... Fischer lets his historical readers speak for themselves, ceaselessly seduced by textual magic' - The Independent 'Starting from the Bronze Age and ending with modern emails and a possible future of e-books, Steven Fischer's A History of Reading takes in a wonderful diversity of things' - Nature 'It's an exciting story, which the author tells clearly and chronologically' - Daily Telegraph

'A History of Reading' is a scholarly and comprehensive account of reading world-wide, past, present and future. From the earliest 'reading' of notches to the explosion of reading material available today, Stephen Fischer details how reading was once largely work-related or seen as a symbol of power and wealth and a male prerogative; the advent of printing made it eventually more widely accessible. The role of religion, the Roman Empire and the Greeks, early bookshops, reading circles in the Ancient World, circulating libraries and the invention of reading glasses, 'silent' reading, the growth of literacy, and much more, are chronicled here. For those who find 'happiness in a little corner with a little book' this is fascinating stuff (the great - uncatalogued - Library at Alexandria contained more books than one man could read; book-theft was once punishable by death) that confirms the power of reading to enthral and educate. (Kirkus UK)

Of the three volumes in Steven Roger Fischer's hugely ambitious and sedulously executed trilogy, the first two dealt with language and writing. This one, however, is the most suggestive and open, dedicated not only to the technicalities of his subject but to the everyday experience of communication... Fischer lets his historical readers speak for themselves, ceaselessly seduced by textual magic The Independent Starting from the Bronze Age and ending with modern emails and a possible future of e-books, Steven Fischer's A History of Reading takes in a wonderful diversity of things Nature It's an exciting story, which the author tells clearly and chronologically Daily Telegraph

Author Information

Steven Roger Fischer is Director of the Institute of Polynesian Languages and Literatures in Auckland, New Zealand. A History of Reading is the final book in Fischer's trilogy which also includes A History of Language and A History of Writing, as well as Island at the End of the World: The Turbulent History of Easter Island, all available from Reaktion Books.

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