Restoring the world's oldest book, the Diamond Sutra

4 December 2010 Last updated at 22:47 ET Help

Writer and historian, Frances Wood, is head of the Chinese section at the British Library, where restoration work has been taking place on an edition of the world's oldest printed book - the Diamond Sutra which dates back to 868 AD.

Wood spent years living and studying in China and has written books including Did Marco Polo go to China? and The First Emperor of China.

The picture above is from the British Library website where you can view the Diamond Sutra and turn the pages.

Frances Wood was talking to Kirsty Young on Desert Island Discs broadcast on Sunday 5 December at 1115 GMT on BBC Radio 4, repeated 0900 GMT on Friday 10 December or online via BBC iPlayer.

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