"132 short histories of organisations, grouped in thirteen sections"--Introduction.

A guide to print culture in Aotearoa, the impact of the book and other forms of print on New Zealand. This collection of essays by many contributors looks at the effect of print on Maori and their oral traditions, printing, publishing, bookselling, libraries, buying and collecting, readers and reading, awards, and the print culture of many other language groups in New Zealand.

This volume examines the life and work of New Zealand author Maurice Duggan. His life was turbulent and difficult as he suffered from a "black Irish" personality, the lifelong trauma of an amputated leg, and battles with alcoholism, relationships and employment. This biography looks at the complexity of his life and offers a picture of literary life in New Zealand, and especially Auckland, in the 1950's and 1960's.