The Bookseller of Florence

''A marvel of storytelling and a masterclass in the history of the book'' WALL STREET JOURNAL

The Renaissance in Florence conjures images of beautiful frescoes and elegant buildings - the dazzling handiwork of the city''s artists and architects. But equally important were geniuses of another kind: Florence''s manuscript hunters, scribes, scholars and booksellers. At a time where all books were made by hand, these people helped imagine a new and enlightened world.

At the heart of this activity was a remarkable bookseller: Vespasiano da Bisticci. His books were works of art in their own right, copied by talented scribes and illuminated by the finest miniaturists. With a client list that included popes and royalty, Vespasiano became the ''king of the world''s booksellers''. But by 1480 a new invention had appeared: the printed book, and Europe''s most prolific merchant of knowledge faced a formidable new challenge.

''A spectacular life of the boo