A History of the Book in America

Volume 1

The Colonial Book in the Atlantic World

Edited by Hugh Amory and David D. Hall. American Antiquarian Society, Cambridge University Press, 2000. Reprinted 2001 and 2005. Hardcover in dust jacket, 638 pages. Red boards with gold lettering on the spine. Some B&W illustrations.

From the Bay Psalm Book and Cotton Mather to the rebellious writings of the men who brought us a new nation, this is a definitive history that puts into perspective the influences of society in the 18th Century. Religion and politics were the driving factors, of course. But the real impetus for presses (and books in general) was literacy.

Most of the chapters were written by the editors. This is an excellent beginning to the series.