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Libraries & Culture 38.3 (2003) 274-275



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The Moving Market: Continuity and Change in the Book Trade. Edited by Peter Isaac and Barry McKay. New Castle, Del.: Oak Knoll Press, 2001. xiv, 201 pp. $39.95. ISBN 1-58456-052-5.

The Moving Market: Continuity and Change in the Book Trade takes a look at how the book trade has played a significant role in world history, more specifically, from the late eighteenth century through the early twentieth century. This book is comprised of fifteen individual essays written by well-known scholars in the [End Page 274] field of library history and the book trade, including Jeffery Smith, Phillip Henry Jones, and John Hinks, all of whom show how the book trade was and still is a vital part of history. The book is the fifth volume of the Print Network series.

Each essay has its own individual focus and gives the reader a perspective of the book trade during a specific time period. Each author is an expert in his or her field of study and has done extensive research. For instance, "Books and Culture in Late Eighteenth- and Early Nineteenth-Century Newcastle" by Jeffery Smith focuses on some of the most influential people in Newcastle, which was considered a "hotbed of intellectual activity" (1). Many residents were involved in printing and bookselling. The essay raises many questions, such as, why did so many people want to be in Newcastle, and why did those who left return? This introductory essay was a good beginning to the entire book and did an excellent job of engaging my attention.

The editors of this book intended for each of the essays to be read individually. However, there are some common threads that tie the essays together. For instance, many of the essays describe shortages of supplies for writers and booksellers. "The First World War and Welsh Language Publishing" by Phillip Henry Jones discusses the shortage of book and newspaper writers because many men went to war, and book prices had to increase dramatically to take into account the lack of raw materials (13). Along the same lines, "The Beginnings of the Book Trade in Leicester" by John Hinks discusses how the book trade began during medieval times. Although there is no substantial evidence to show how the people of Leicester obtained reading materials, it is true that during that time books were considered a commodity (27).

Each essay also shows how the book trade has changed with the times. "The First World War and Welsh Language Publishing" provides a perfect example: the number of books written in Welsh has decreased significantly because of the simple fact that the number of people who can read Welsh is also decreasing.

Anyone who has an interest in the study of the early book trade will find this book very worthwhile. Each of the authors discusses an essential aspect of the book trade and offers many different yet important perspectives.

 



Donna L. Koenig
University of Kansas, Lawrence

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