A History of Reading in the West
University of Massachusetts Press
Books and other texts have not always been read in the way that we read them today. The modern practice of reading—privately, silently, with the eyes alone—is only one way of reading, which for many centuries existed alongside other forms. In the ancient world, in the Middle Ages, and as late as the seventeenth century, many texts were written for the voice. They were addressed to the ear as much as the eye, and they used forms that were oriented toward the demands of oral performance. This is one of the themes explored in this landmark volume. Written by a distinguished group of international contributors, it analyzes the transformations of reading methods and materials over the ages, showing that revolutions of reading have generally preceded revolutions of the book. The authors examine not only the technical innovations that changed physical aspects of books and other texts, but also the evolving forms of reading and the growth and transformation of the reading public. The volume will be invaluable to students of cultural history and to all those who want a fresh perspective on the history of books and their uses.
A terrific anthology, ranging over problems in the history of reading that reappear across historical periods and geographical contexts, and written by the very top specialists of all the areas. . . . A very important work.'—Abby Zanger, Harvard University
'Ranging from ancient Greece to the Internet, edited by two leading scholars in this rapidly expanding field, and written by a group of specialists in a lucid and accessible style, A History of Reading in the West . . . will be quite indispensable for students and scholars alike.'—Peter Burke, Emmanuel College, Cambridge
'It is no exaggeration to say that these historians...have transformed and revitalized the field of book history...'—San Francisco Chronicle
'Its usefulness to scholars of the history of the book, reading, writing, and print cultures is immense....'—SHARP News
'The viewpoints offered by the authors are rich and varied...a veritable history of reading in the West...'—History of Reading News
'There is no way to encapsulate here the richness of these explorations.'—Los Angeles Times Book Review
Guglielmo Cavallo is professor of Greek palaeography at the University of Rome La Sapienza. Roger Chartier is directeur d'études at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Paris.
