The English Common Reader: A Social History of the Mass Reading Public, 1800-1900. Second Edition

New book, clean pages and cover. "The English Common Reader" was the first comprehensive and systematic exploration of how the ordinary Englishman became a reader. A social history as well as a history of the English reading public, the book has become a classic. This updated edition has a new preface and an extensive new bibliography. The book is divided into two broad sections: "The Background: 1477-1800," and "The Nineteenth Century." Chapters in the first section are: (1) "From Caxton to the Eighteenth Century"; (2) "The Eighteenth Century"; and (3) "The Time of Crisis, 1791-1800." Chapters in the second section are: (4) "The Social Background"; (5) "Religion"; (6) "The Utilitarian Spirit"; (7) "Elementary Education and Literacy"; (8) "Secondary Education"; (9) "The Mechanics' Institutes and After"; (10)"Public Libraries"; (11) "The Self-Made Reader"; (12) "The Book Trade, 1800-1850"; (13) "The Book Trade, 1851-1900"; (14) "Periodicals and Newspapers, 1800-1850"; (15) "Periodicals and Newspapers, 1851-1900"; and (16) "The Past and the Present." Appendixes with data are: "Chronology of the Mass Reading Public, 1774-1900"; "Best Sellers"; and "Periodical and Newspaper Circulation." (NKA) The English Common Reader was the first comprehensive and systematic exploration of how the ordinary Englishman became a reader. A rich social history as well as a history of the English reading public, the book has become a classic. It will continue to be read and enjoyed by scholars and students as we make our way through another age of profound social change for the reader and for the book. This edition features an extensive new bibliography.