The Passions of Johann Gutenberg

"The invention that terrified popes and kings—and the love one man sacrificed to create it."
Johann Gutenberg is a skilled artisan in Germany in the 1400s. He is a gem cutter, engraver, and smelter, among other things. His talent helps him stand out, and he is soon approached by a friar who wants him to stamp a long Latin phrase on the cover. Gutenberg becomes engrossed in the work that leads him to dream up a new idea: a movable-type printing press. Books are currently made only by painstaking hand copying, mostly by religious orders. A single book can take a year, and the price is exorbitant. The machine Gutenberg envisions would allow the common man much more education and power. It can completely change the world and the course of history. In order to pursue his dream, Gutenberg must give up his job and constantly borrow and worry over money. Also, he meets a young woman named Ennelin, and the two begin a passionate relationship. He plans to marry her, but when his finances crumble, he insists on breaking the engagement, convinced she deserves better than to be tied to a man constantly in fear of debtor's prison. Through years of hardship and trial and error, Gutenberg eventually realizes his dream. However, old debts and misfortune are not finished with him.
Brown's book of historical fiction is based on the life of the real Johann Gutenberg. Historical fiction based on real people is common, and these books can reach beyond their genre audience, as seen in works such as I, Claudius by Robert Graves and Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier. All of these books take what is known about real and significant people from history and use this information, along with the history of the time and place, to create a fictional story around the facts of their lives. These books often use significant, known events from the time and place of their settings to create realism and provide world-building. Brown effectively uses information about the Gutenberg family, the machinations of the church, the treatment of Jews, local architecture, and court cases to shape a grounded story of Gutenberg's life.
Brown's novel is marvelously engaging. He creates a very believable, likable story about the inventor, with a touching love story, a dash of swashbuckling, and ties it all together by showing one man's passion, determination, and resilience. The cast of characters is equally impressive, including both his friends and coworkers and the antagonists. Brown impresses by crafting a story that appeals to a wide audience. This historical imagining of the events surrounding Gutenberg's monumental invention will have wide appeal. The book is enjoyable to read and will find plenty of fans both within the genre and with readers desiring engaging stories with characters driven to overcome all odds in pursuit of their dreams.

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