the work establishes the author's intention to provide a comprehensive overview of manuscript writing and decoration from the earliest times to the sixteenth century, marking the transition from illuminated texts to printed works. Middleton emphasizes the survival of classical techniques throughout the mediaeval period and introduces the reader to the types of manuscripts, such as those inscribed on metal and wax tablets, which set the stage for the ensuing exploration of decorated texts. The early chapters delve into specific forms of writing, such as the use of a stylus and pen, and hint at the intricate process and care taken by scribes and illuminators, setting up a rich narrative of the artistry and craftsmanship involved in these historical texts. (This is an automatically generated summary.)