It's really easy these days to get hold of books and magazines, or to grab pencil and notepaper to make a list, but it’s sobering to reflect that it has not always been the case. Writing itself was invented ‘only’ a few thousand years ago -as a means of keeping accounts. When it started to be used more generally. It was viewed with suspicion by some people. Socrates, for example, thought that once written down, words could be taken out of context and their meaning changed as a result. The art of making paper was kept secret for hundreds of years. And were you aware that our portable devices ultimately derived from the moon landings? This fascinating book, set out chronologically, reads like a novel, and takes in everything from The Epic of Gilgamesh to Harry Potter, including post-colonial literature. If you love reading and writing, this book is for you.
This book was first reviewed in Teach Secondary magazine.