Reading History in Early Modern England [Paperback]

A study of writing, publishing and marketing history books in the early modern period.This book focuses on the 'after-life' of historical texts in the period between the arrival of printing in England and the early eighteenth century. Whereas previous studies of historical writing during this period have focused on their authors and on their style or methodology, this work examines the social forces which controlled what was written, and the impact upon authors of readers and publishers. The intent is to situate the study of history books within the current literature on the history of the book and the history of print culture.This book focuses on the 'after-life' of historical texts in the period between the arrival of printing in England and the early eighteenth century. Whereas previous studies of historical writing during this period have focused on their authors and on their style or methodology, this work examines the social forces which controlled what was written, and the impact upon authors of readers and publishers. The intent is to situate the study of history books within the current literature on the history of the book and the history of print culture.This book focuses on the after-life of historical texts in the period between the arrival of printing in England and the early eighteenth century. Whereas previous studies of historical writing during this period have focused on their authors and on their style or methodology, this work examines the social forces that controlled what was written, and the impact of readers and publishers on authors. The intent is to situate the study of history books within the current literature on the history of the book and the history of print culture.Introduction; 1. The death of the chronicle; 2. The contexts and purposes of history reading; 3. The ownership of historical works; 4. Borrowing and lending; 5. Clio bound and unbound; 6. Marketing history; Conclusion; Appendix A: A bookseller's inventory, c. 1730; Appelc›