The astonishing manuscripts of Timbuktu form the lavish visual heart of this book. Beautifully graphic, occasionally decorated, these exquisite artifacts reveal great craftsmanship as well as learning. A range of subjects -- from scholarly and scientific works to topics as diverse as divorce, adoption, breastfeeding, and prostitution -- provide a vivid insight into the ordinary life and values of the day.  (WAF137, $50.00)