The Production of Books in England 1350–1500 Cambridge Studies in Palaeography and Codicology Series

Between roughly 1350 and 1500, the English vernacular became established as a language of literary, bureaucratic, devotional and controversial writing; metropolitan artisans formed guilds for the production and sale of books for the first time; and Gutenberg's and eventually Caxton's printed books reached their first English consumers. This book gathers the best work on manuscript books in England made during this crucial but neglected period. Its authors survey existing research, gather intensive new evidence and develop new approaches to key topics. The chapters cover the material conditions and economy of the book trade; amateur production both lay and religious; the effects of censorship; and the impact on English book production of manuscripts and artisans from elsewhere in the British Isles and Europe. A wide-ranging and innovative series of essays, this volume is a major contribution to the history of the book in medieval England.

Foreword Derek Pearsall; Introduction Alexandra Gillespie and Daniel Wakelin; 1. Materials Orietta Da Rold; 2. Writing the words Daniel Wakelin; 3. Mapping the words Simon Horobin; 4. Designing the page Stephen Partridge; 5. Decorating and illustrating the page Martha Driver and Michael Orr; 6. Compiling the book Margaret Connolly; 7. Bookbinding Alexandra Gillespie; 8. Commercial organization and innovation Erik Kwakkel; 9. Vernacular literary manuscripts and their scribes Linne R. Mooney; 10. Book production outside commercial contexts Jean-Pascal Pouzet; 11. Censorship Fiona Somerset; 12. Books beyond England John Thompson; 13. English books and the Continent David Rundle; Afterword: the book in culture Wendy Scase; Bibliography; Manuscript index; Index.

Alexandra Gillespie is Associate Professor of English at the University of Toronto.
Daniel Wakelin is Lecturer in English at the University of Cambridge.