Overview

In 1450, very few English men or women were personally familiar with a book; by 1850, the great majority of people daily encountered books, magazines, or newspapers. This book explores the history of this fundamental transformation, from the arrival of the printing press to the coming of steam. James Raven presents a lively and original account of the English book trade and the printers, booksellers, and entrepreneurs who promoted its development. Viewing print and book culture through the lens of commerce, Raven offers a new interpretation of the genesis of literature and literary commerce in England. He draws on extensive archival sources to reconstruct the successes and failures of those involved in the book trade - a cast of heroes and heroines, villains, and rogues. And, through groundbreaking investigations of neglected aspects of book trade history, Raven thoroughly revises our understanding of the massive popularization of the book and the dramatic expansion of its markets over the centuries.

Full Product Details

9780300122619

Table of Contents

Reviews

"""'The sweep of this book is remarkable - it single-handedly covers 400 years of the English book trade.' John Barnard, University of Leeds 'This is a compendious, confident and fascinating work, the fruit of years of scholarship.' John Mullan, University of London"""

'The sweep of this book is remarkable - it single-handedly covers 400 years of the English book trade.' John Barnard, University of Leeds 'This is a compendious, confident and fascinating work, the fruit of years of scholarship.' John Mullan, University of London

Author Information

James Raven is professor of modern history, University of Essex. He is the author of numerous studies in cultural history and has published extensively on the history of the book and related topics.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available