INTRODUCTION

The ebook (electronic book) is 40 years old. After humble beginnings, it is firmly standing alongside the print book. We now read ebooks on our computers, PDAs, mobile phones, smartphones and ebook readers.

“The ebook is 40” is a chronology in 44 episodes from 1971 to 2011. Unless specified otherwise, the quotes are excerpts from the NEF Interviews <www.etudes-francaises.net/entretiens/>, University of Toronto, and the interviews that followed as a complement. Many thanks to all those who are quoted here, for their time and their friendship.

Part of this book was published as a series of articles in Project Gutenberg News <www.gutenbergnews.org> in July 2011, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Project Gutenberg on 4 July 2011.

This book marks the very end of a 12-year research project, with 100 participants worldwide.

Marie Lebert is a researcher and journalist specializing in technology for books and languages. Her books are freely available in Project Gutenberg <www.gutenberg.org>, in various formats for any electronic device.