David Pearson is a leading expert on the history of books, after a lifetime spent working with them, writing about them and owning them. His previous books include 'Provenance Research in Book History' (new edition, Bodleian Library Publishing, 2019) and 'Book Ownership in Stuart England' (Oxford University Press, 2021).

Speaking Volumes is an approachable study of a richly rewarding field...A bibliophiles delight, with photographs of bindings, title pages, annotations, illustrations, library shelves, books shot at, fragments rescued from fire, doodles by a child to Isaac Casaubon learned commentary. £40 hardback might seem expensive or take up valuable shelf space, but squeeze the purse and shelf, to buy a well-researched book.

• Contents PrefaceChapter 1: IntroductionChapter II: Insights from ownershipChapter III: Notes on the sideChapter IV Adding things in, and cutting them outChapter V: Outsides of booksChapter VI: Accidents, incidents, and talismansChapter VII: A digital ageFurther readingPicture referencesIndex

David Pearson is a leading expert on the history of books, after a lifetime spent working with them, writing about them and owning them. His previous books include 'Provenance Research in Book History' (new edition, Bodleian Library Publishing, 2019) and 'Book Ownership in Stuart England' (Oxford University Press, 2021).

Speaking Volumes is an approachable study of a richly rewarding field...A bibliophiles delight, with photographs of bindings, title pages, annotations, illustrations, library shelves, books shot at, fragments rescued from fire, doodles by a child to Isaac Casaubon learned commentary. £40 hardback might seem expensive or take up valuable shelf space, but squeeze the purse and shelf, to buy a well-researched book.

• Contents PrefaceChapter 1: IntroductionChapter II: Insights from ownershipChapter III: Notes on the sideChapter IV Adding things in, and cutting them outChapter V: Outsides of booksChapter VI: Accidents, incidents, and talismansChapter VII: A digital ageFurther readingPicture referencesIndex