Book History


Book history has emerged in the last twenty years as one of the most important new fields of interdisciplinary study.

It has produced new interpretations of major historical events, has made possible new approaches to history, literature, media, and culture, and presents a distinctive historical perspective on current debates about the future of the book. 

My work in this field has taken several forms.  I helped found the Interacting with Print research group, and led the group from 2008-2013.  I now lead the Centre for the History of the Book at the University of Edinburgh.  With my colleague Michelle Levy, I produced two key textbooks in this field, which have been widely adopted at universities in Britain and North America: The Broadview Reader in Book History (2014) and The Broadview Introduction to Book History (2017).