Gutenberg and the Impact of Printing

'... we long have lacked an up-to-date overview of the broader cultural impact of printing during its first century of development. Originally published in German as Gutenberg und seine Wirkung (1999), Füssel's book admirably fulfills this need with a fast-moving, far-reaching, and readable narrative... especially valuable in that it combines such a close account of Gutenberg's work with such a thorough overview of its impact, where figures such as Erasmus, Maximilian I, and Luther stand alongside the great printers as essential shapers of the print revolution... the book must be recommended highly to those who seek to understand early European typography in light of its cultural and intellectual relevance.' Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America 'Gutenberg and the Impact of Printing is a general history of the first years of printing in central Europe, with specific examples and ample illustration, providing a useful orientation for the reader new to the history of the book.' Papers of the Bibliographical Society of Canada 'This book is an authoritative work of cultural history narrated in a crisp and sprightly fashion... contains much intriguing and helpful information... this is a valuable account of the culture of late-fifteenth and early sixteenth-century Germany. It covers a lot of ground, but does so in an efficient and concise way that will be equally appealing to a newcomer to the subject or to a more specialist reader.' Journal of the Printing Historical Society 'It was first published in a German edition in 1999, to coincide with the 600-year celebration of Gutenberg's nominal birth-year in 2000. Its translation into English is welcome and various sections of the book will appeal respectively to specialists in the field and to interested, but less informed, readers... an ideal introduction for undergraduates or anyone new to the subject, [...] Füssel is assured on both technical and aesthetic issues. The detailed descriptions of and car