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Gutenberg's Apprentice

By: Alix Christie

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Paperback | 18 June 2015 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Paperback
418 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
2.7 x 12.2 x 19.8

Paperback

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''Brilliantly-observed detail. Her characters are engaging, the world as beautifully crafted as one of Gutenberg''s hot-metal letters, and the themes more relevant now than ever'' Naomi Alderman, author of The Power

A gripping historical novel that brings tumultuous medieval Europe to life. Not to be missed by readers of Hilary Mantel, Peter Ackroyd and C. J. Sansom.

Johann Gutenberg''s first printed Bibles amazed and shocked medieval Europe. He had started a revolution that would one day put books in the hands of any man or woman who wanted them. The project was fraught with danger, for it threatened the power of politicians and the Catholic church.

Who was this Gutenberg? In Alix Christie''s evocative and compelling novel, he comes vividly to life - driven, caustic and ruthless. Behind him stands a brilliant young scribe, Peter Schoeffer, whose genius is to stay true to his artistic values in the cauldron of the printer''s workshop. Caught between the old ways and the new, the two men struggle with one another and the world outside to prevail against overwhelming obstacles... and change history.

''A lovely piece of work: finely researched and beautifully, atmospherically, written'' Sarah Dunant

A semifinalist for the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award.

Industry Reviews

A sophisticated and moving story of the creation of the Gutenberg Bible... Christie provides a powerful portrait of the intense, irascible and egotistical Gutenberg, but her novel's real strength lies in its depiction of [his apprentice, Peter] Schoeffer, drawn unwillingly into the struggle to build a new technology, yet eventually becoming its most committed advocate - Sunday Times

A deep, immersive recreation of a pivotal moment in history and a bold exploration of an eternal theme: the madness, rivalry, torment and ecstasy of creation

'So rich and gorgeous it is making me dizzy'

'As beautifully written as the printed pages it describes, this is an intelligent, masterful novel that immerses the reader in a fascinating historical time and place'

'Deftly chronicled ... Christie masterfully depicts the time and energy required to print the first Bibles... A bravura debut' - Kirkus

'Gorgeously written... An inspiring tale of ambition, camaraderie, betrayal, and cultural transformation based on actual events and people, this wonderful novel fully inhabits its age' - Booklist

'I loved this novel! Alix Christie's debut is intensely observed, so much that I felt in the dark rooms of history with the people laboring over the metal and words to bring us print, but also laboring over their own lives and love and survival'

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