The Little Professor directs us to this splendid essay by Jonathan Rose on 19th and 20th-century working-class readers and their books. Compelling reading.
And if you’re not familiar with recent directions in the history of reading, readers and books, you might want to take a look at some of these:
Review of Roger Chartier, The order of books
Taught course outline with reading list
History of the book: bibliographical essay
In the works: transforming literature in early modern print: a book exhibit honoring Roger Chartier
Society for the history of authorship, reading and publishing
Online resources and reading suggestions
Humbul resources for the history of the book
The printing press online
That’ll do to be going on with.
6 comments on “The Classics in the Slums”
Woohoo! I’m going to assign it to my 19th c. class — it will fit in with both the readings on workers’ lives and working conditions and with Juse the Obscure, don’t you think?
Er, that would be Jude.
And the study of new technology has led to increasing recognition that the book (or the codex to give it the original title, which helps to point to its nature) is a form of technology just like any other. It is not the “norm” and information technology the exception. It has dominated for a long time, but it is not the only possibility. (Sorry, if I sound emphatic; this is a hobby horse from my thesis.)
Gerard Genette’s Paratexts to a large extent predates but greatly informs this debate. He’s interested in everything that surrounds the actual “text” and the way that the “text” is arranged. (It is written in “French philosopher-speak” (even in English translation), but well worth sticking with.
I’ve also recently read a brilliant collection of essays on what can be learned from early modern books about their readers. When I can find it I’ll post it. (Yep, think I’ve just about reached the buy some more shelves and have a library rearrangement time.)
Thanks muchly for your kind words about my article! If you want to read more on the history of reading, there’s my book “The Intellectual Life of the British Working Classes” (from which the article was shamelessly cribbed) as well as Elizabeth McHenry’s “Forgotten Readers,” a fine study of black American literary societies.
Interesting article. Ms Smith’s comments are the type that make you think about the real function of the “walled garden”. Who’s being protected from whom? This week we’ve seen a seasoned academic walk out of a reality TV show, criticising the corporate ringmaster of bullying and interference. A bit too real in other words. Unfortunately it will always be the same. They’ve no idea, some of ‘em…
Jonathan, I love it when academics shamelessly crib from their books to write fine (free!) online articles like this. So you’re more than welcome to plug the book here!
Steve, I haven’t watched BB for about 3 years and haven’t been watching this one either, but if that’s what Germaine (love her! then want to bash her head against a brick wall! then love her again!) has said - well, what did she expect?