Reading in the old days
04/28/2009 10:09
William J. Gilmore, Reading Becomes a Necessity of Life (Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press. 1989)
This is thought of as a “seminal text” in American book studies. 100 pages in, I can see why. Gilmore died in 1999, while working on a book called Republic of Knowledge. AAS has a typescript from 1998 called “The Regional Book Trade” that might be useful. I wonder if there are archival materials anywhere (Worldcat doesn’t know)?
The interesting thing about this study of books in the 18th century is that it’s about disenchantment and disillusionment. Modernity, Gilmore says, is a profoundly unsatisfying and unsettling state. And it was so from 1785-1830. “History would be a trivial pursuit were it not morally instructive,” he continues. The “new mass culture centered on the printed and written word” that began during and just after the American Revolution has something to tell us about social change in the information age, and also maybe about the dream deferred.
more later…
This is thought of as a “seminal text” in American book studies. 100 pages in, I can see why. Gilmore died in 1999, while working on a book called Republic of Knowledge. AAS has a typescript from 1998 called “The Regional Book Trade” that might be useful. I wonder if there are archival materials anywhere (Worldcat doesn’t know)?
The interesting thing about this study of books in the 18th century is that it’s about disenchantment and disillusionment. Modernity, Gilmore says, is a profoundly unsatisfying and unsettling state. And it was so from 1785-1830. “History would be a trivial pursuit were it not morally instructive,” he continues. The “new mass culture centered on the printed and written word” that began during and just after the American Revolution has something to tell us about social change in the information age, and also maybe about the dream deferred.
more later…
