The Provincial Book Trade in Eighteenth-Century England

by John Feather

Overview

It was not until the eighteenth century that books became widely available throughout the whole of England. Publishing remained largely London-based, but the provincial market grew steadily in importance. In this study, drawing on a wide range of primary sources, John Feather traces the economic, social and cultural forces which made possible this fundamental change, and assesses the impact of the metropolitan printed word on provincial society. He discusses the important issues of copyright and piracy; the various financial arrangements between booksellers and publishers; and above all the elaborate distribution and agency systems that enabled London publishers to retain their effective stranglehold by penetrating the provincial market at every level.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521055529
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	02/11/2008
Series:	Cambridge Studies in Publishing and Printing History
Edition description:	Reissue
Pages:	196
Product dimensions:	0.12(w) x 8.46(h) x 0.43(d)

Table of Contents

List of illustrations; Preface; Acknowledgements; Note on sources; Note on dates and places; Abbreviations; 1. London and the country; 2. A century of growth; 3. The market for books; 4. The distribution system; 5. The bookselling business; 6. The printing office; Conclusion; Appendices; Notes; Index of the provincial book trade; General index.