Routledge Writing and Society - Literacy, Print and Politics

Explore the connection between rising literacy rates and the evolution of readerships in Britain from 1590 to 1660. This Routledge publication offers a deep look into how cultural production responded to changing political landscapes during a transformative era. This volume stands out as the first single book to provide a year-by-year chronology of political events alongside cultural developments. It provides a comprehensive overview of debates in historiography and literary critical theory, making it a valuable resource for students and scholars of British history. Readers can examine influential books from the period through included facsimile pages accompanied by expert commentary. The text provides a detailed analysis of how literacy developed across different genders, regions, and social statuses, while also covering structures of patronage and censorship.