Title: Gutenberg's ApprenticeAuthor: Alix Christie
Genre: Historical Fiction
Synopsis: Master scribe & printer, Peter Schoeffer, tells the story of how he became a printer to a young clergyman who wishes to write about it. It begins when Peter is given as an apprentice to Johann Gutenberg by adoptive father, Johann Fust. Gutenberg is secretly creating his famous printing press with movable type in a workshop. Peter uses his skills as a scribe to help create the best metal type for the press. Gutenberg and Fust have a tumultuous relationship as difficulties arise in the process of printing what comes to be known as the Gutenberg Bible. This is because Fust is the main contributor of funds for the project. Peter has to decide where his loyalties lie; with the Master or his father.
My Thoughts
As you may have noticed, most of the books I read are from the perspective of a female protagonist. It was a definite change of pace to read a novel where there are very few female characters.
The beginning of each section of the book is set with Peter describing what it was like to work with Gutenberg. The following chapters are all set when Peter was young and working in the print shop. Gutenberg is portrayed as a crazy inventor type who is not much of a businessman or people person. It is interesting to read about how dedicated the men who worked for him were, though he was often unkind. His brilliance is what inspired their loyalty.
Alix Christie is a printer herself, so I took notice of some stylistic choices she made in each of theses sections. In the chapters where Peter is looking back on his past, the type is set further apart with more space between the words and each line. This gives the reader the idea that the pace is slower at this time. When the section transitions into chapters where Peter is working in the print shop, the words and lines are closer set, giving the illusion of a quick, cramped pace. Each chapter also begins with a large illuminated letter, giving an old timey feel, and the edges of the pages are not perfectly cut, but a bit jagged.
Overall, this was an interesting novel to read. The beginning and end move quickly, but the middle was a bit slow. I'm uncertain if this was the intention of the author, to give the reader the feeling of how long the process of creating the type was, or not. Some of the specifics of the printing process in the middle could be trimmed so the reader doesn't get bogged down.
If you are interested in printing, medieval towns, or learning more about the Gutenberg Bible, this book is for you!
Comment below if you have read this book or have suggestions for others like it!
To buy this book from Amazon now, click on the image at the top of the post.
To see more from Alix Christie, visit her website linked above.
As you may have noticed, most of the books I read are from the perspective of a female protagonist. It was a definite change of pace to read a novel where there are very few female characters.
The beginning of each section of the book is set with Peter describing what it was like to work with Gutenberg. The following chapters are all set when Peter was young and working in the print shop. Gutenberg is portrayed as a crazy inventor type who is not much of a businessman or people person. It is interesting to read about how dedicated the men who worked for him were, though he was often unkind. His brilliance is what inspired their loyalty.
Alix Christie is a printer herself, so I took notice of some stylistic choices she made in each of theses sections. In the chapters where Peter is looking back on his past, the type is set further apart with more space between the words and each line. This gives the reader the idea that the pace is slower at this time. When the section transitions into chapters where Peter is working in the print shop, the words and lines are closer set, giving the illusion of a quick, cramped pace. Each chapter also begins with a large illuminated letter, giving an old timey feel, and the edges of the pages are not perfectly cut, but a bit jagged.
Overall, this was an interesting novel to read. The beginning and end move quickly, but the middle was a bit slow. I'm uncertain if this was the intention of the author, to give the reader the feeling of how long the process of creating the type was, or not. Some of the specifics of the printing process in the middle could be trimmed so the reader doesn't get bogged down.
If you are interested in printing, medieval towns, or learning more about the Gutenberg Bible, this book is for you!
Comment below if you have read this book or have suggestions for others like it!
To buy this book from Amazon now, click on the image at the top of the post.
To see more from Alix Christie, visit her website linked above.
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