Remarkable Renaissance Books

A celebration of innovation in the Renaissance age told through 18 of its earliest printed books. Remarkable Renaissance Books tells the story of eighteen extraordinary early printed volumes, from the very first titles printed in the fifteenth century to the groundbreaking scientific texts of the Enlightenment. John Boardley revisits works including Gutenberg's Bible, a mathematical book illustrated by Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo's observations of the Moon's mountains, Kepler's treatise on a supernova, Robert Hooke's discovery of microscopic honeycomb structures he coined "cells," and Maria Sibylla Merian's pioneering studies of metamorphosis. These beautiful books and their enthralling histories, prehistories, and legacies chart the fascinating stories of readers, writers, printers, scientists, philosophers, and artists and the part they played in forging the modern world. In addition to highlighting their production and reception, Boardley traces each book's journey into print, painting a vivid and enthralling picture of remarkable books authored by prodigious minds. This lavishly illustrated volume brings the early print culture of the Renaissance to life and will appeal to lovers of books and history alike.