Thursday, November 01, 2007


The little black book – BOOKS
Cassell Illustrated (Hachette) $45

An absolute must for all bibliophiles, (read book nutters!).

A brick of a book which must weigh in at close to two kilos it is definitely not for reading in bed but oh my, this is the ultimate guide to 1000 of the most important moments that shaped a century of book publishing.

Written and selected by a range of international writers, academics, and critics, here’s an instantly accessible and intelligent look at literary history and criticism over the past century. From key novels to memorable protagonists, admired authors to pivotal books both banned and beloved, this compilation features an expert selection of events, awards, scandals, and sacrifices. Find out how literature as we know it has been shaped not only by leading writers, but by quirks of fate, meetings, love affairs, and moments of despair and death. Revisit characters such as Lily Bart, Atticus Finch, and Harry Potter, as well as the still-raging controversy surrounding The Da Vinci Code.

General Editor is Lucy Daniel a London-based reviewer and critic for many of the UK’s leading newspapers and journals. She has employed over a hundred contributors all of them well qualified for such a project.

The world of literature in a nutshell, this is a wonderful book for dipping into; I suggest you keep it beside your bed or favourite reading chair, that’s what I’m going to do. But do be careful if reading it in bed, it's a heavyweight!

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