A History of the Book in America

<p>Volume Two of <i>A History of the Book in America</i> documents the development of a distinctive culture of print in the new American republic.<br/><br/>Between 1790 and 1840 printing and publishing expanded and literate publics provided a ready market for novels almanacs newspapers tracts and periodicals. Government business and reform drove the dissemination of print. Through laws and subsidies state and federal authorities promoted an informed citizenry. Entrepreneurs responded to rising demand by investing in new technologies and altering the conduct of publishing. Voluntary societies launched libraries lyceums and schools and relied on print to spread religion redeem morals and advance benevolent goals. Out of all this ferment emerged new and diverse communities of citizens linked together in a decentralized print culture where citizenship meant literacy and print meant power. Yet in a diverse and far-flung nation regional differences persisted and older forms of oral and handwritten communication offered alternatives to print. The early republic was a world of mixed media.<br/><br/>Contributors:<br/>Elizabeth Barnes College of William and Mary<br/>Georgia B. Barnhill American Antiquarian Society<br/>John L. Brooke The Ohio State University<br/>Dona Brown University of Vermont<br/>Richard D. Brown University of Connecticut<br/>Kenneth E. Carpenter Harvard University Libraries<br/>Scott E. Casper University of Nevada Reno<br/>Mary Kupiec Cayton Miami University<br/>Joanne Dobson Brewster New York<br/>James N. Green Library Company of Philadelphia<br/>Dean Grodzins Massachusetts Historical Society<br/>Robert A. Gross University of Connecticut<br/>Grey Gundaker College of William and Mary<br/>Leon Jackson University of South Carolina<br/>Richard R. John Columbia University<br/>Mary Kelley University of Michigan<br/>Jack Larkin Clark University<br/>David Leverenz University of Florida<br/>Meredith L. McGill Rutgers University<br/>Charles Monaghan Charlottesville Virginia<br/>E. Jennifer Monaghan Brooklyn College of The City University of New York<br/>Gerald F. Moran University of Michigan-Dearborn<br/>Karen Nipps Harvard University<br/>David Paul Nord Indiana University<br/>Barry O'Connell Amherst College<br/>Jeffrey L. Pasley University of Missouri-Columbia<br/>William S. Pretzer Central Michigan University<br/>A. Gregg Roeber Pennsylvania State University<br/>David S. Shields University of South Carolina<br/>Andie Tucher Columbia University<br/>Maris A. Vinovskis University of Michigan<br/>Sandra A. Zagarell Oberlin College</p>