Grub Street Abroad: Aspects of the French Cosmopolitan Press from the Age of Louis XIV to the French Revolution (Lyell Lectures in Bibliography)

Eighteenth-century French readers who wanted to keep up with political and literary trends, had to rely on books and journals imported from abroad. French writers, such as Voltaire and Rousseau, also depended on foreign firms to get their works in print. Grub Street Abroad demonstrates the importance of extraterritorial publishing for the Enlightenment and the French Revolution. By placing the periphery at the center of the stage, it highlights neglected cosmopolitan aspects of an emergent public sphere and points to forces which undercut Bourbon claims of cultural hegemony. Firms serving French markets from abroad are viewed as part of a far-flung communications network which, although sensitive to diplomatic pressures from diverse courts, still comprised a relatively autonomous, independent field of operations. Topics covered include the publishing and editing of francophone journals and clandestine manuscripts; the emergence of the book review and the editorial board; the reliance of the philosophes upon foreign firms; and the cosmopolitan outlook of so-called Grub Street hacks. "Eighteenth-century French readers who wanted to keep up with political and literary trends had to rely on books and journals imported from abroad. French writers, such as Voltaire and Rousseau, also depended on foreign firms to get their works in print." "Grub Street Abroad demonstrates the importance of extraterritorial publishing for the Enlightenment and the French Revolution. By placing the periphery at the centre of the stage, it highlights neglected cosmopolitan aspects of the French Enlightenment and points to forces which undercut Bourbon claims of cultural hegemony. Firms serving French markets from abroad are viewed as part of a far-flung communications network which, although sensitive to diplomatic pressures from diverse courts, still comprised a relatively autonomous, independent field of operations. Topics covered include the publishing and editing of francophone journals and clandestine manuscripts; the emergence of the book review and the editorial board; the reliance of the philosophes upon foreign firms; the cosmopolitan outlook of so-called 'Grub Street hacks'." "Overall, a revised picture of the nature and importance of publishing in the period emerges - a presentation that will provoke and interest a wide range of historical, literary, and bibliographical specialists."--Jacket Examining the importance of extraterritorial publishing for the Enlightenment and the French Revolution, this work covers such topics as the publishing and editing of francophone journals and clandestine manuscripts, and the emergence of the book review and editorial board. 1. Perspectives on Ext1.raterritorial Publishing......Page 6 2. News from the Republic of Letters......Page 43 3. The World of Prosper Marchand......Page 73 4. The Cosmopolitan Enlightenment......Page 124 5. Grub Street Abroad......Page 152 Index......Page 185