A History of Reading and Writing

'A History of Reading and Writing in the Western World provides a thought provoking overview and analysis of a vast range of time and ideas. I would certainly recommend this as a set text for my Book History courses.' - Jane Potter, Oxford Brookes 'A History of Reading and Writing in the Western World fills a crying need for an introductory transnational Book History textbook.' - Jonathan Rose, Drew University

Offering a fresh history centred on the reactions and experiences of ordinary readers and writers, Lyons deals with key turning points that occurred throughout the centuries, such as the invention of the codex, the transition from scribal to print culture, the reading revolution and the industrialisation of the book.Martyn Lyons surveys the changing relationships enjoyed by men and women with the written word, from early times to the present day. He provides a highly-readable account of the social history of reading and writing, relating it to key historical moments such as the Renaissance, the Reformation and the Enlightenment.

Offering a fresh history centred on the reactions and experiences of ordinary readers and writers, Lyons deals with key turning points that occurred throughout the centuries, such as the invention of the codex, the transition from scribal to print culture, the reading revolution and the industrialisation of the book.
Tracing the major historical developments across Europe and North America which revolutionised our relationship with texts, this book provides an engaging and invaluable overview of the history of scribal and print culture.