This is the first English-language biography of the incomparably talented printer GiambattistaBodoni (1740-1813). Born to a printing family in the small Italian town of Saluzzo, he left hiscomfortable life to travel to Rome in 1758 where he served as an apprentice of CardinalSpinelli at the Propaganda Fide press. There, under the sponsorship of Ruggieri, his closefriend, mentor, and protector, he learned all aspects of the printing craft. Even then, his realtalent, indeed his genius, lay in type design and punchcutting, especially of the exotic foreignalphabets needed by the papal office.His life changed in 1768 at age 28 when he was invited by the young Duke of Parma toabandon Rome for that eponymous city to establish and direct the ducal press. He remained inParma, over-seeing a vast diversity of printing all of it making use of typefaces he designedand engraved.This book goes beyond Bodoni's capacity as a printer; it examines the life and times in whichhe lived, the turbulent and always fragile political climate, and the fascinating cast ofcharacters. Intriguing, scholarly, visually arresting, and designed and printed to Bodoni'sstandards, this title belongs on the shelf of any self-respecting bibliophile.