The Business of Books by James Raven
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.
"'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"
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.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780300122619 |
| ISBN 10 | 0300122616 |
| Title | The Business of Books |
| Author | James Raven |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Yale University Press |
| Year published | 2007-07-01 |
| Number of pages | 448 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |