This beautifully illustrated book provides an accessible introduction to
the medieval manuscript and what it can tell us about the world in which
it was made and used. Captured in the materiality of manuscripts are the
data enabling us to make sense of the preferences and habits of the
individuals who made up medieval society. With short chapters grouped
under thematic headings, Books Before Print shows how we may tap into
the evidence and explores how manuscripts can act as a vibrant and
versatile tool to understand the deep historical roots of human
interaction with written information. It highlights extraordinary
continuities between medieval book culture and modern-world
communication, as witnessed in medieval pop-up books, posters, speech
bubbles, book advertisements, and even sticky notes.