Empire of the Word Teaser

301 views · Published 16 November 2009 · 0:30 · Indexed 20 September 2026

Channel: TVO Docs · 2009 · People & Blogs

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For the past 40 years, pundits and academics alike have predicted the imminent demise of the written word. Censorship, movies, television, the internet and multimedia  each has been held up as the nemesis of the book. But today more people are reading than ever before.

This four-part series, presented by Alberto Manguel and based on his History of Reading, traces how reading came to be; how it is that we can read; who or what might try to prevent us from reading; what it is that reading gives us; and what the future of reading may be.

Coupled with the documentary is an innovative, interactive website available through tvo.org in late October featuring an alternate reality game unfolding over eight weeks that will immerse players in the world of reading.

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