The etymology of the word “book”. Period Word itself Transcription Meaning Translation Picture Proto-Germanic bokiz [ˈbokiz] The word bokiz is connected with the tree name – beech tree. Бук Latin librum [Li:brum] The Latin word “librum” is connected with the inner bark. Внутренняя кора деревьев French livre [livrə] The French “word” livre came from the Latin word “librum” and its meaning was also the inner bark. Внутренняя кора деревьев Old-English boc [Bœc] In the Old-English period the meaning was a written document or a book. Книга, письменный документ Mid-English (XI–XV) bok [bok] In the Middle-English Period the word “bok” kept its meaning from the Old-English Period but narrower meaning appeared Книга, письменный документ; письменное произведение, состоящее из множества страниц, скреплённых и переплётенных между собой XIX Book [buk] Magazine Журнал

Interesting facts: The link to the beech tree stems from the ancient Germanic practice of using beechwood tablets for writing. Ruins or other symbols were carved into the them. So the tree name signified the writing itself. The noun “book” gave rise to the verb “to book” (meaning to record or register) around 1200. This meaning reflects the fact that the earliest English books were records of land grants. Thus, the English word for "book" is directly linked to the material used for writing in ancient times – beech wood. XX Book [buk] Telephone directory Телефонный справочник Modern English Book [buk] a set of pages that have been fastened together inside a cover to be read or written in Книга

The Yellow Books (1887) – Vincent van Gogh. Van Gogh depicted a stack of contemporary French novels with their distinctive bright-yellow covers. For the artist they were a symbol of modern life and new art. Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray. The French novel in a yellow paper binding, gifted to Dorian by Lord Henry, becomes his constant companion. It is described as a physical accompaniment to his corrupt life – a book he orders in various expensive bindings to match his ever-changing moods. Vladimir Vysotsky – The Ballad of Books (or “The ballad of the bookish children”, “The ballad about the struggle”) In this song, books appear as tangible objects from the wartime and post-war childhood. Vysotsky describes their physical presence: books were “devoured” while “choking on the secrets”; they “pressed themselves into basements”; they were read by candlelight; their covers and pages smelled of adventure and smoke. Here, the book is a physical refuge for children escaping the harsh reality. Песня The NeverEnding Story (1984). Shy boy Bastian steals an ancient tome from a secondhand bookstore. When he starts reading the book, an entire magical world unfolds before him. Here, the book is not just an object – it’s a portal to another reality. Spanish artist Alicia Martín gives books a second life, transforming them into entirely new works of art. One of the themes of her project is that the installations can be seen as a kind of monument to the fading era of paper books, which are gradually being replaced by electronic media.