CONTENTS.

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PART I.
Page
CHAPTER I.
The Weald of Kent—Caxton's School-days—French disused—English taught —Variations in English—Books before Printing—Libraries—Transcribers— Books for the Great—Book Trade—No Books for the People—Changes produced by Printing 1
CHAPTER II.
The Mercer's Apprentice—His Book-knowledge—Commerce in Books—Schools in London—City Apprentices—City Pageants—Spread of English Language— English Writers—Chaucer—Gower—Lydgate—The Minstrels—National Literature 19
CHAPTER III.
Caxton abroad—Caxton's mercantile pursuits—Restrictions on Trade—Caxton's Commission—Merchants' Marks—Beginnings of Printing—Playing Cards—Wood-engraving—Block-books—Moveable Types—Guttenberg—Guttenberg's Statue—Festival at Mentz 44
CHAPTER IV.
The Court of Burgundy—Caxton a Translator—Literature of Chivalry—Feudal Times—Caxton at the Ducal Court—Did Caxton print at Bruges—Edward the Fugitive—The new Art 62
CHAPTER V.
Rapidity of Printing—Who the first English Printer—Caxton the first English Printer—First English Printed Book—Difficulties of the first Printers—Ancient Bookbinding—The Printer a Publisher—Conditions of Cheapness in Books 85
CHAPTER VI.
The Press at Westminster—Theological Books—Character of Caxton's Press—The Troy Book—The Game of the Chess 109
CHAPTER VII.
Female Manners—Lord Rivers—Popular History—Popular Science—Popular Fables—Popular Translations—The Canterbury Tales—Statutes—Books of Chivalry—Caxton's last days 125
CHAPTER VIII.
The Chapel—The Companions—Increase of Readers—Books make Readers—Caxton's Types—Wynkyn's Dream—The first Paper-mill 153
Appendix 167
PART II.
CHAPTER I.
Cheap Popular Literature—Conditions of Cheapness—Popular Literature of Elizabeth's reign—Who were the Readers 179
CHAPTER II.
Imperfect Civilisation—Reading during the Civil Wars—Reading after the Restoration—French Romances—First London Catalogue, 1680—Authors and Booksellers—Subscription Books—Books in Numbers—The Canvassing System 197
CHAPTER III.
Periodical Literature—Prices of Books—18th Century—Two Classes of Buyers—The Magazines—Collections of the Poets—The Circulating Library—Cheap Book-Clubs 218
CHAPTER IV.
Continued dearness of Books—Useful Knowledge Society—Modern Epoch of Cheapness—Demand and Supply—The Printing-machine—The Paper-machine—Revival of Woodcutting 238
CHAPTER V.
London Catalogue, 1816-1851—Annual Catalogues, 1828, 1853—Classes of Books, 1816-1851—Periodicals, 1831, 1853—Aggregate amount of Book-trade—Collections and Libraries—International Copyright—Readers in the United States—Irish National School-books 260
CHAPTER VI.
Cheap Fiction—Penny Periodicals 277
CHAPTER VII.
Degrees of Readers—General Improvement—Newspaper Press—Newspaper Press National—Agricultural Readers—General desire for Amusement—Supply of real Knowledge 286
CHAPTER VIII.
Free Libraries—In Towns—In Rural Districts—Influences of the best Books 303
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