Margaret Leslie Davis

“A lively tale of historical innovation, the thrill of the bibliophile’s hunt, greed and betrayal.” – The New York Times Book Review "An addictive and engaging look at the ‘competitive, catty and slightly angst-ridden’ heart of the world of book collecting.” - The Houston Chronicle The never-before-told story of one extremely rare copy of the Gutenberg Bible, and its impact on the lives of the fanatical few who were lucky enough to own it. For rare-book collectors, an original copy of the Gutenberg Bible--of which there are fewer than 50 in existence--represents the ultimate prize. Here, Margaret Leslie Davis recounts five centuries in the life of one copy, from its creation by Johannes Gutenberg, through the hands of monks, an earl, the Worcestershire sauce king, and a nuclear physicist to its ultimate resting place, in a steel vault in Tokyo. Estelle Doheny, the first woman collector to add the book to her library and its last private owner, tipped the Bible onto a trajectory that forever changed our understanding of the first mechanically printed book. The Lost Gutenberg draws readers into this incredible saga, immersing them in the lust for beauty, prestige, and knowledge that this rarest of books sparked in its owners. Exploring books as objects of obsession across centuries, this is a must-read for history buffs, book collectors, seekers of hidden treasures, and anyone who has ever craved a remarkable book--and its untold stories.

The Astounding Story of One Book's Five-Hundred-Year Odyssey

The Lost Gutenberg

'An entertaining and insightful human story of obsession about books.' Daily Telegraph 'A lively tale of historical innovation, the thrill of the bibliophile's hunt, greed and betrayal.' New York Times The never-before-told story of one extremely rare copy of the Gutenberg Bible, and its impact on the lives of the fanatical few who were lucky enough to own it. For rare book collectors, an original copy of the Gutenberg Bible - there are only forty-six in existence - is the undisputed gem of any collection. The Lost Gutenberg recounts five centuries in the life of one particular copy of the Bible from its very creation by Johannes Gutenberg in Mainz, Germany, to its ultimate resting place, in a steel vault under the protection of the Japanese government. Margaret Leslie Davis draws readers into this incredible saga, inviting them into the colourful lives of each of its fanatic collectors along the way. Exploring books as objects of desire across centuries, Davis will leave readers not only with a broader understanding of the culture of rare book collectors, but with a deeper awareness of the importance of books in our world.

The rise and fall of William Mulholland, and the story of L.A.’s disastrous dam collapse: “A dramatic saga of ambition, politics, money and betrayal” (Los Angeles Daily News). Rivers in the Desert follows the remarkable career of William Mulholland, the visionary who engineered the rise of Los Angeles as the greatest American city west of the Mississippi. He sought to transform the sparse and barren desert into an inhabitable environment by designing the longest aqueduct in the Western Hemisphere, bringing water from the mountains to support a large city. This “fascinating history” chronicles Mulholland’s dramatic ascension to wealth and fame—followed by his tragic downfall after the sudden collapse of the dam he had constructed to safeguard the water supply (Newsweek). The disaster, which killed at least five hundred people, caused his repudiation by allies, friends, and a previously adoring community. Epic in scope, Rivers in the Desert chronicles the history of Los Angeles and examines the tragic fate of the man who rescued it. “An arresting biography of William Mulholland, the visionary Los Angeles Water Department engineer . . . [his] personal and public dramas make for gripping reading.” —Publishers Weekly “A fascinating look at the political maneuvering and engineering marvels that moved the City of Angels into the first rank of American cities.” —Booklist

William Mulholland and the Inventing of Los Angeles

Rivers in the Desert

Para colecionadores de livros raros, um exemplar original da Bíblia de Gutenberg é uma joia inconteste, tendo chegado a custar 12 milhões de dólares. Quando Estelle Doheny, a excêntrica viúva de Edward Doheny, magnata do petróleo, finalmente obteve um deles, foi o auge de uma busca de quarenta anos. Estelle, a primeira mulher, e talvez a dona mais devota da Bíblia, também seria sua última proprietária particular. Após sua morte, este exemplar único seguiria seu caminho para que, por meio do estudo de cientistas, fosse dado o passo mais importante para a compreensão das técnicas utilizadas na composição do primeiro livro impresso no Ocidente. Nesta obra, Margaret Leslie Davis relata em detalhes os cinco séculos da vida deste exemplar, desde sua criação por Johannes Gutenberg em 1455, em Mainz, Alemanha, passando por sua posse pelo herdeiro inglês do império de molhos Lea & Perrins Worcestershire, até́ seu último local de repouso em um cofre de aço em Tóquio. Em Busca da Bíblia Perdida de Gutenberg convida os leitores a entrar na vida de cada um de seus colecionadores ao longo de sua trajetória histórica. Por meio de um texto vibrante, e do acesso inédito a registros pessoais, a autora oferece uma história única e fascinante a bibliófilos e amantes de livros em geral, e para os interessados na história do livro.

A surpreendente odisseia de 500 anos pelo maior tesouro literário de todos os tempos

Em busca da bíblia perdida de Gutenberg

Doheny built was one of the early oil barons in Mexico and the United States before becoming embroiled in the Teapot Dome scandal.

Triumph and Scandal in the Life of Oil Tycoon Edward L. Doheny

Dark Side of Fortune

In December 1962 Da Vinci's Mona Lisa set sail from Paris to New York for what was arguably the riskiest art exhibition ever mounted. The fragile icon traveled like a head of state, with armed guards and military surveillance, in a temperature-controlled vault. Masterminding the entire show was First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. For eighty-eight charmed days, “Lisa Fever” swept the nation as nearly two million Americans attended exhibits in Washington, D.C. and New York. It was the greatest outpouring of appreciation for a single work of art in American history and the beginning of our nation's love affair with the arts. Acclaimed biographer Margaret Leslie Davis “tells the tale in charming fashion” (USA Today), revealing a saga filled with international intrigue and the irresistible charm of Camelot and its queen.

Margaret Leslie Davis

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