With the future of the book such a hot topic, it is welcome relief to take a step back in time to the discovery of the world’s oldest printed book. This is the story of Aurel Stein, a Hungarian-born archeologist who set out from northern India in 1906, on a mission to uncover ancient settlements and explore hidden caves. He was funded largely by the British government, who wanted antiquities for their museums, and his journey took him and his team along ancient Silk Road routes through Central Asia and into China. His greatest discovery was the Diamond Sutra, a Buddhist text that was printed using woodblocks on paper scroll and dated 868AD. The discovery shed new light on the history of Buddhism and its spread along the Silk Road.

This is a fantastic adventure story. Joyce Morgan and Conrad Walters are both senior journalists for the Sydney Morning Herald and the narration of Stein’s perilous journey in freezing conditions without communication and detailed maps is energetic and absorbing. Many of Stein’s discoveries were shipped back to Britain and it’s fascinating to read about what happened to the Diamond Sutra and other priceless artifacts during World War II and the bombing of London.

Today, the Diamond Sutra is housed in the British Library, but rarely on display (to prevent deterioration). Instead you can go to their website and scroll through a digitised copy. A very interesting read, especially for anyone pondering the future of the printed word.

Kara Nicholson is from Readings Carlton