Making Book History in Timbuktu

Timbuktu's enduring legacy as a center of scholarly activity is illuminated through the lives and practices of three key bookmen spanning from 1864 to 2013. This study reveals how Timbuktu's tradition of manuscript copying, collecting, and reading persisted across generations, despite external pressures. By focusing on a contemporary scholar, his late teacher—a renowned Arabic grammar specialist—and the zealous collector who bridged the 19th and 20th centuries, the research underscores the resilience of Timbuktu's intellectual heritage. The approach combines biographical narrative with an analysis of book-related activities, offering a nuanced perspective on Timbuktu's role in African book history.

Jeppie, S. (2015). Making Book History in Timbuktu. The Book in Africa, 83–102. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137401625_5