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Bookshapers Podcast

Exploring curious stories about the people and technology behind what we read – with Anna Faherty and Judith Watts.

For book nerds, readers and anyone interested in publishing or book history.

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Episodes

Botanica Blackwellia

In which Anna and Judith travel back to the degenerate world of Eighteenth-century London. Expect, user-focused content and design, a performance in rhyming verse and a little gin. When Elizabeth Blackwell's husband ends up in a debtor's prison, she thinks writing and illustrating her own...

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Pianotype

In which Anna and Judith uncover a publishing innovation that promised to spark a revolution – but didn’t. Expect the spectre of automation, invisible women, union disputes, rock-star pianists and a new take on the sound of typesetting. The Anatomy of Sleep was the first...

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The Sign of the Penguins

In which Anna and Judith travel to Antarctica to embark on the greatest possible adventure: publishing a book! Expect cold, dark and dismal weather, the printing press from hell and the stench of seal blubber – all wrapped up in tasty petit-pois endpapers.  ...

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Trailer 01: The pianotype

The pianotype was an elegant Victorian machine, which promised to revolutionise typography and literature. But why has no-one heard of it?    LINKSYou can view the 1842 edition of ‘The Anatomy of Sleep’ by Dr Edward Binns online at the Internet Archive.  You can...

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Show Hosts

Bookshapers is brought to you by Anna Faherty and Judith Watts.

A round photo of Anna Faherty's head wearing glasses and a blue shirt

Anna Faherty

A round photo showing Judith Watts' eye peering through a peephole

Judith Watts

Landscape logo with the word Bookshapers and, below it, Anna Faherty & Judith Watts