The Enlightenment and the Book : Scottish Authors and Their Publishers in Eighteenth-Century Britain, Ireland, and America

The late eighteenth century witnessed an explosion of intellectual activity in Scotland by such luminaries as David Hume, Adam Smith, Hugh Blair, William Robertson, Adam Ferguson, James Boswell, and Robert Burns. And the books written by these seminal thinkers made a significant mark during their time in almost every field of polite literature and higher learning throughout Britain, Europe, and the Americas. In this magisterial history, Richard B. Sher breaks new ground for our understanding of the Enlightenment and the forgotten role of publishing during that period. __The Enlightenment and the Book__ seeks to remedy the common misperception that such classics as __The Wealth of Nations__ and __The Life of Samuel Johnson__ were written by authors who eyed their publishers as minor functionaries in their profession. To the contrary, Sher shows how the process of bookmaking during the late eighteenth-century involved a deeply complex partnership between authors and their publishers, one in which writers saw the book industry not only as pivotal in the dissemination of their ideas, but also as crucial to their dreams of fame and monetary gain. Similarly, Sher demonstrates that publishers were involved in the project of bookmaking in order to advance human knowledge as well as to accumulate profits. __The Enlightenment and the Book__ explores this tension between creativity and commerce that still exists in scholarly publishing today. Lavishly illustrated and elegantly conceived, it will be must reading for anyone interested in the history of the book or the production and diffusion of Enlightenment thought.

The late eighteenth century witnessed an explosion of intellectual activity in Scotland by such luminaries as David Hume, Adam Smith, Hugh Blair, William Robertson, Adam Ferguson, James Boswell, and Robert Burns. And the books written by these seminal thinkers made a significant mark during their time in almost every field of polite literature and higher learning throughout Britain, Europe, and the Americas. 

In this magisterial history, Richard B. Sher breaks new ground for our understanding of the Enlightenment and the forgotten role of publishing during that period. The Enlightenment and the Book seeks to remedy the common misperception that such classics as The Wealth of Nations and The Life of Samuel Johnson were written by authors who eyed their publishers as minor functionaries in their profession. To the contrary, Sher shows how the process of bookmaking during the late eighteenth-century involved a deeply complex partnership between authors and their publishers, one in which writers saw the book industry not only as pivotal in the dissemination of their ideas, but also as crucial to their dreams of fame and monetary gain. Similarly, Sher demonstrates that publishers were involved in the project of bookmaking in order to advance human knowledge as well as to accumulate profits. 

The Enlightenment and the Book explores this tension between creativity and commerce that still exists in scholarly publishing today. Lavishly illustrated and elegantly conceived, it will be must reading for anyone interested in the history of the book or the production and diffusion of Enlightenment thought.

Review of English Studies

"This is an exceptional piece of work. It is both an astonishing accumulation of informative detail and a multiplicity of lively interconnected narratives of authors, books, booksellers, printers and other subjects. It is a very useful reference book, with its nearly 150 pages of tables and bibliographies; it is also an engaging and stimulating read."-Antonia Forster, Review of English Studies

— Antonia Forster

the Late Eighteenth Century Witnessed An Explosion Of Intellectual Activity In Scotland By Such Luminaries As David Hume, Adam Smith, Hugh Blair, William Robertson, Adam Ferguson, James Boswell, And Robert Burns. And The Books Written By These Seminal Thinkers Made A Significant Mark During Their Time In Almost Every Field Of Polite Literature And Higher Learning Throughout Britain, Europe, And The Americas. 

in This Magisterial History, Richard B. Sher Breaks New Ground For Our Understanding Of The Enlightenment And The Forgotten Role Of Publishing During That Period. the Enlightenment And The Book Seeks To Remedy The Common Misperception That Such Classics As the Wealth Of Nations And the Life Of Samuel Johnson Were Written By Authors Who Eyed Their Publishers As Minor Functionaries In Their Profession. To The Contrary, Sher Shows How The Process Of Bookmaking During The Late Eighteenth-century Involved A Deeply Complex Partnership Between Authors And Their Publishers, One In Which Writers Saw The Book Industry Not Only As Pivotal In The Dissemination Of Their Ideas, But Also As Crucial To Their Dreams Of Fame And Monetary Gain. Similarly, Sher Demonstrates That Publishers Were Involved In The Project Of Bookmaking In Order To Advance Human Knowledge As Well As To Accumulate Profits. 

the Enlightenment And The Book Explores This Tension Between Creativity And Commerce That Still Exists In Scholarly Publishing Today. Lavishly Illustrated And Elegantly Conceived, It Will Be Must Reading For Anyone Interested In The History Of The Book Or The Production And Diffusion Of Enlightenment Thought.

print Quarterly

sher''s Book Is A Long-awaited Magnum Opus Which Proves To Be A Most Valuable Source Of Information On Many Topics In The Fields Both Of Scottish Enlightenment Studies And Of The History Of The Book. . . . As Such, It Is To Be Warmly Welcomed.

— Iain Gordon Brown

"In this history, Richard B. Sher breaks new ground for our understanding of the Enlightenment and the forgotten role of publishing during that period. The Enlightenment and the Hook seeks to remedy the common misperception that such classics as The Health of Nations and The Life of Samuel Johnson were made by their authors alone. To the contrary, Slier shows how the process of bookmaking during the late eighteenth century invoked complex partnerships between authors and their publishers, in which writers saw the hook industry not only as pivotal in the dissemination of their ideas but also as crucial to their dreams of fame and monetary gain. Similarly, Slier demonstrates that publishers were involved in the project of bookmaking for a variety of reasons, ranging from accumulating profits to advancing human knowledge." "The Enlightenment and the Book explores this tension between creativity and commerce, which still exists in scholarly publishing today. Illustrated and elegantly conceived, it will he must reading for anyone interested in the history of the book or the production and diffusion of Enlightenment thought."--BOOK JACKET In this history, Richard B. Sher breaks new ground for our understanding of the Enlightenment and the forgotten role of publishing during that period. The Enlightenment and the Hook seeks to remedy the common misperception that such classics as The Wealth of Nations and The Life of Samuel Johnson were made by their authors alone. To the contrary, Slier shows how the process of bookmaking during the late eighteenth century invoked complex partnerships between authors and their publishers, in which writers saw the book industry not only as pivotal in the dissemination of their ideas but also as crucial to their dreams of fame and monetary gain. Similarly, Slier demonstrates that publishers were involved in the project of bookmaking for a variety of reasons, ranging from accumulating profits to advancing human knowledge. The Enlightenment and the Book explores this tension between creativity and commerce, which still exists in scholarly publishing today. Illustrated and elegantly conceived, it will he must reading for anyone interested in the history of the book or the production and diffusion of Enlightenment thought Composing the Scottish Enlightenment Identity and diversity among Scottish authors The rewards of authorship Forging the London-Edinburgh publishing axis The heyday of Scottish Enlightenment publishing The achievement of William Creech The rise and fall of Irish reprinting Making Scottish books in America, 1770-1784 A more extensive diffusion of useful knowledge : Philadelphia, 1784-1800.