COMMUNICATORS

The power of words, in occupations ranging from scribe to broadcaster. The importance of writing (and reading) to these professions spans a 5,000-year period, from the time those few who could write were called messengers from the heavens to the present day. Jobs are examined in terms of why and how they've developed over the ages--authors, clerks, editors, journalists and broadcasters, messengers, printers, publishers, scribes, secretaries. The relationship between the oral tradition and the written word is woven throughout, as books, newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and other forms of communication have pioneered and taken hold. Customs, photos, and prints from each time period add interest, sometimes showing that little has changed, e.g., a print from 1784 in which ""a hungry author attempts to peddle his work to a fat, prosperous, none-too-interested publisher."" A fascinating anecdotal reference work best suited to curious, knowledgeable readers.