The Lost Gutenberg

A thrilling page turner * Daily Mail *An entertaining and insightful human story of obsession about books, and a telling examination of what inspires those who catch the collecting bug. – Peter Stanford * Daily Telegraph *A lively tale of historical innovation, the thrill of the bibliophile’s hunt, greed and betrayal. * New York Times *Davis makes bibliographic history utterly page-turning and absorbing… Brilliantly told * Booklist (starred review) *The remarkable tale of “Number 45”, one of the finest copies of the Gutenberg Bible in existence… Davis does a fine job telling a fascinating story that touches on the origin of books, the passion of collectors, the unseen world of rare-book dealers, and the lives of the super-rich, past and present. * Kirkus Reviews (starred review) *A gripping, well-researched account of the importance of books as cultural artifacts and of one particular work that transformed the world, as well as the lives of those who owned a copy. * Library Journal *A fascinating exploration of the shifting value we place on rare books, and the shifting wealth and power of those who hunt them. – Michael Blanding, bestselling author of The Map ThiefBibliophiles love books, and none more than the book collector’s dream of dreams, a Gutenberg Bible. Davis writes not just with skill but also with sympathy and even love. A richly informative and deeply moving story. – Jack Miles, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of God: A BiographyA spellbinding read, and Margaret Leslie Davis is a damn good storyteller. – Noël Riley Fitch, author of Sylvia BeachDavis records the history of this book with enthusiasm and attention to detail. * History Today *Fascinating… An engaging analysis of bibliomania which also throws light on commercial and investment history in Britain and America. * Church Times *What’s truly surprising about The Lost Gutenberg is that Davis makes the 500-year journey of this one book more exciting than any spy novel. For the imaginative Hollywood producer, this book’s life story could provide the basis for a richly enjoyable big-budget blockbuster. The action travels across centuries and moves from England to Los Angeles to Tokyo, bringing together the avaricious, duplicitous and deeply religious, all driven by the same desire: to own a copy of one of the most famous books in the world. * Catholic Herald *

Margaret Leslie Davis is the award-winning author of several works of non-fiction, including The Dark Side of Fortune and Mona Lisa in Camelot. She lives in Los Angeles.