Voices of the Text

Previewing The King and the Swarm: week 2

Over the coming weeks, as I bring book-writing to its close, I’ll be previewing my forthcoming book The King and the Swarm here, in chapter-by-chapter summary form.

Then, a couple of times a month, I’ll hold a subscriber-only AMA salon, to discuss the book or any other themes you want to bring. Thank you for your poll responses last week on date and time! More of you opted for the later time, so the first AMA will happen at 19.00 UK time (1400 EST / 1100 PST) this coming Thursday, 16 July. Link to follow!

Week 1 is here, in which I set out the book’s over-arching thesis. This week, the deep context for the book: how the Greek alphabet was the first information revolution in “the West”, what was unique about this technology, and how it sets the stage for much that we’re facing today.

The School of Athens, Anton Mengs, after Raphael. Image credit: V&A