Alessandro Bianchi on Japan and the History of the Book

December Daytime Program

Which country lays claim to being home to the world’s first novel? 

Most ascribe that honor to Japan, whose fascinating role in the history of the book will be brought to us by Dr. Alessandro Bianchi in a lavishly illustrated midday presentation. He’ll take us on a remarkable journey from hand-copied, to woodblock, to moveable type books. 

To craft his talk he’ll be drawing on the resources of the Bodleian Japanese Library and the university’s Nissan Institute of Japanese Studies. Though it will be early evening for him as he speaks to us from Oxford, Bianchi is well versed in addressing American audiences. He worked at the Smithsonian’s Freer and Sackler Library and taught at Haverford College (which does field a cricket team.) 

Here’s a rare opportunity for you to Zoom beyond our shores, to England for our speaker and to Japan for its stunning history of the book. Book your reservation today!