Truth or Death: The Quest for Immortality in the Western Narrative Tradition Book

A beautiful and extremely informative book!! Michael Olmert's The Smithsonian Book of Books is a treasure chest for bibliophiles and anyone interested in books in any way. The author begins discussing scrolls and scribes and includes illustratrations from the pre-history to 1992 (copyright date). A 23,000 year old missing Koran printed in Arabic was found by Fra Vittorino Meneghin, abbot of Franciscan Monastery of San Michele in Isola which is across "the lagoon" from Venice in the monastery's cloister library in the late 80s. This rare book is called the 'Paganini Koran'. The author relates that this Koran was printed by a Christian for "Eastern eyes only" as the printing press had not arrived in Eastern countries yet. Also included in this stunning book is a page of Beowulf, the epic Anglo-Saxon poem which was "transcribed by a monk about the year 1000". The animated narrative of the author keeps company with striking illustrations and photographs. Discussions of ancient printers to modern ones is fascinating.
The author includes information on a bookmaker's craft - printing, bookbinding, illustratrations, children's books, bookplates, and the book trade. This book belongs in any bibliophile's library. Very highly recommended. 5 stars.