The Oxford Companion to the Book

The Oxford Companion to the Book is a comprehensive reference work that covers the history and production of books from ancient to modern times. It is edited by Michael F. Suarez, SJ, and H. R. Woudhuysen, and published by Oxford University Press.^[1]

The Companion includes a series of introductory essays that provide an overview of the field of book history and production. These essays cover topics such as writing systems, the ancient and medieval book, book production, editorial theory and practice, and the economics of print.^[1] The Companion also includes 29 surveys of the history of the book in different regions of the world, including the Muslim world, Latin America, and Sub-Saharan Africa.^[1]

The main section of the Companion is an A-Z of over 5,000 entries, covering every aspect of the book, from brief definitions to more in-depth treatments.^[1] These entries cover traditional subjects such as bibliography, palaeography, and the history of printing, as well as newer disciplines such as the history of electronic books. The entries are linked by thorough cross-referencing and are organized using a classified index. The text is illustrated with reproductions, diagrams, and examples of various typographical features.

The Oxford Companion to the Book was written by 400 of the world's leading scholars in bibliography and book history. It is the only reference work of its kind in the field, and has been praised as a "monumental achievement" by CHOICE.^[1]