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'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.' (Publisher's blurb)
Notes
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Table of contents: Ch. 1. Introduction : the enterprise of booksellers -- Ch. 2. The arrival of print : domestic and foreign -- Ch. 3. Markets and martyrs : early modern commerce -- Ch. 4. The late Stuart trade : new horizons -- Ch. 5. Investing in books : the supremacy of the booksellers -- Ch. 6. High and low : locating the trades -- Ch. 7. Boosting demand : stationers, printers, and sellers -- Ch. 8. Challenges and survivals : the late eighteenth century -- Ch. 9. Promoting the wares -- Ch. 10. Risking failure -- Ch. 11. Steam and stamps : nineteenth-century transformation -- Ch. 12. Conclusion.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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Remaindering Jane
2008
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , October no. 305 2008; (p. 20)
— Review of The Business of Books : Booksellers and the English Book Trade 1450-1850 2008 single work criticism
-
Remaindering Jane
2008
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , October no. 305 2008; (p. 20)
— Review of The Business of Books : Booksellers and the English Book Trade 1450-1850 2008 single work criticism
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cUnited Kingdom (UK),cWestern Europe, Europe,
- 1450-1850