James Raven is Professor of Modern History at the University of Essex and a Fellow of Magdalene College, University of Cambridge.

Preface

Acknowledgements

List of illustrations and tables

1. The Scope of Book History

Redefining the book

First books first

2. The Early History of Book History

Pre-histories of the book

Towards bibliography

3. Description, Enumeration and Modelling

Retrospective catalogues and bibliometrics

New perspectives and projects

Circuits and diagrams

4. Who, What and How?

Economics

Wider horizons

Control: Copyright, censorship and circulation

Libraries

Cautions and precepts

5. Reading

Identifying readers

Recovering reading practises

Consequences

Further reading

Index

"This is an invaluable survey of the origins, theoretical and methodological underpinnings, and major resources and findings of the fast-growing field of book history, across a global range of times and places."
--Ann Blair, Harvard University

"James Raven's boundary-defying book is delightfully adventuresome in its thinking and dazzling in the scope and command of the sources it adduces. This remarkably accomplished little volume will be part of the conversation for years to come."
--Michael F. Suarez, S.J., Director, Rare Book School at the University of Virginia

"It's exactly what I need to introduce me to what the discipline embraces, how it began and how it is developing."
--Karen McAulay, Times Higher Education Supplement

"'Easy writing', wrote the playwright Sheridan, 'is damned hard reading'. For James Raven this must have been damned hard writing indeed, for the result is reading which lightly carries a lifetime of learning and will surely act as an inspiration to others, not least to young scholars who are coming new to the field."
--Library & Information History