Material Texts in Early Modern England

This book combines book history and literary criticism to explore how early modern books were richer things than previously imagined.

List of contents

Introduction: 'the Case of man'; 1. Cutting texts: 'prune and lop away'; 2. Burning texts: 'his studyeing chaire ... was of Strawe'; 3. Errors and corrections: 'my galley charged with forgetfulness'; 4. Printed waste: 'tatters Allegoricall'; Conclusion.

About the author

Adam Smyth is Professor of English Literature and the History of the Book at the University of Oxford. He is the author of, among other things, Autobiography in Early Modern England (Cambridge, 2010); Profit and Delight: Printed Miscellanies in England, 1640–82 (2004); the editor of A History of English Autobiography (Cambridge, 2016); and the co-editor, with Gill Partington, of Book Destruction from the Medieval to the Contemporary (2014). He has published widely on the literary and bibliographical cultures of early modern England. He writes regularly for the London Review of Books.

Summary

What was a book in early modern England? Material Texts in Early Modern England focuses on neglected bibliographical cultures, including cutting, destruction, recycling, and errors. It explores how authors including Herbert, Milton, and Cavendish responded to this rich bibliographical context.

Product details

• Authors: Adam Smyth, Adam (Balliol College Smyth, Dr. Adam (Balliol College Oxford) Smyth, SMYTH ADAM
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.01.2018
• EAN: 9781108421324
• ISBN: 978-1-108-42132-4
• No. of pages: 220
• Subjects: Fiction > Poetry, drama; Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > English linguistics / literary studies; England, Literary studies: c 1500 to c 1800, 16th century, c 1500 to c 1599, c 1500 to c 1600, Publishing industry & book trade, Publishing and book trade, Literary studies: c 1400 to c 1600