Description: This study ranges over private and public reading in a variety of religious, social, and scientific communities. It locates and charts specific historical moments of change in reading habits that reflect broader social and political shifts. Reputable contributors cover topics that include the processes of book production and distribution, audiences and markets, the material text, the relationship of print to performance, and the politics of acts of reception.
Review Quotes: "Many challenging claims for reading as an agent of change are made in this valuable collection." H-ALBION