Books That Speak

Books Speak contains thirty essays and critiques written by Gu Zhen in recent years, exploring the relationship between book collecting, reading, books, and people. It documents the author's insights into book design, editions, and illustrations, gained through years of compiling, translating, and collecting books.Why did aspiring literary figure Desmond McCarthy rely on newspaper contributions to make ends meet?What were Virginia Woolf and Hogarth Press's annual incomes?How does Disney's reimagined Winnie-the-Pooh differ from Shepard's original illustrations?How did bookseller Rosenbach convince buyers that his titles were inherently superior to competitors'?How did Sean Bissell, author of The Bookshop Diaries, transform from self-described "e;gentle and friendly"e; to notorious "e;sarcastic bookseller"e;?Stories of influential figures in publishing history, fascinating anecdotes from the literary world, exquisite rare editions, and heartwarming tales of book lovers... Gu Zhen meticulously transports the bygone era of the book trade into this volume, The Book That Speak. Organized with subtle internal connections, the essays intertwine like paths through a garden, offering discerning readers diverse routes to explore.