Divine art, infernal machine

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There has long been confusion surrounding Johann Fust, Gutenberg's former business partner, and the infamous Doctor Faustus, a connection that reflects the early perception of the printing press as a form of black magic. Despite this, many churchmen and statesmen embraced it as a "divine art." Sixteenth-century Lutherans celebrated it for liberating Germans from papal authority, while seventeenth-century English radicals viewed it as a tool against oppressive rulers. An early colonial governor of Virginia lamented the lack of printing in his colony, yet a century later, revolutionaries recognized Gutenberg's role in challenging the dominance of priests and kings. Scholars praised printing as a peaceful art, acknowledging its role in advancing knowledge while expressing concerns about information overload. In her insightful work, the author explores five centuries of mixed feelings toward printing and printers, linking technological advancements with cultural changes. She reflects on the nineteenth-century steam press, seen as both a symbol of progress and the end of a golden age. Predictions of print's demise due to digital media are met with skepticism, as the relationship between print and commerce remains complex. The ongoing challenge of preserving vast amounts of text amid resource constraints in libraries adds to this ambivalence. Ultimately, attitudes toward print will remain varied, and claims of its death are greatly