The "history of the book"— the study of communication through texts—is at once very old and very new. Although it emerges from a variety of traditional specialized areas of study, it became a distinctive interdisciplinary field in its own right in the last third of the 20th century.

The rise of computers and digital media has, if anything, only intensified interest in the study of "print culture." Because book history is located at the intersection of social and intellectual history, aesthetics, technology, and economics, it is, in the words of the Chronicle of Higher Education, "a particularly hot topic in the humanities and not just in the United States."

Bibliothèque Municipale d'Abbeville Ms. 94 -
Chronique de Pierre le Prestre. Paper, 42+319ff;
15th-century Tooled Binding with bosses

Source: Dscriptorium

The Society for the History of Authorship, Reading, and Publishing founded in 1991, is arguably the premier organization for the study of all aspects of the culture of the book.

Approximately 1000 members from 20 countries have united to pursue the study of writing and print (and now, increasingly, electronic media, as well). The annual meetings are notable for their collegial atmosphere as much as their intellectual energy, and they welcome contributions from graduate students and established scholars alike. The organization publishes a quarterly newsletter and the award-winning annual, Book History. The web site is a gateway to a host of riches, including links to syllabi, organizations, and other resources. A lively listserve facilitates exchange of ideas on every "book" topic imaginable.

SHARP