Archive for September, 2013

Media Center: ‘On Paper’ by Nicholas Basbanes

September 24th, 2013

WHO: Nicholas A. Basbanes

WHAT: ON PAPER:
The Everything of Its Two-Thousand-Year History

WHEN: Published by Knopf October 17, 2013

WHERE: The author lives in Massachusetts.

WHY: “An absolutely fascinating tale.
A wide-ranging, freewheeling, authoritative look at one of society’s most ubiquitous products, from its origins in China nearly two millennia ago through its methodical spread across the world. Basbanes digs into the means by which paper is made and recycled, manufactured and repackaged, created for mass consumption and manipulated as art. He examines the implications of its cultural uses—in historical documents, architectural drawings, government paperwork, currency—and in doing so reveals how many roles, directly and indirectly, paper plays in our lives.
“Basbanes leaves no page unturned, and finishes with a poignant story of how a paper trail keeps the legacy of 9/11 fresh and has led to the further identification of some victims. Through interviews, personal visits, and extensive research, he has created an engrossing, essential book that no book lover should be without. The wealth of information Basbanes includes barely scratches the surface, but it whets the appetite and forces us to rethink how we view this versatile material.”
—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, starred review

“Self-proclaimed bibliophile Basbanes proves a delightful and intrepid guide in this capacious history of paper…A lively tale told with wit and vigor.” —KIRKUS, starred review

Jacket photoMedia Resources:
About the book | About the author | Download the jacket or the author photo

Publicist for this title:
Gabrielle Brooks | 212-572-2151 | gbrooks@randomhouse.com