Fairs, Markets and the Itinerant Book Trade

From the Frankfurt book fairs in the sixteenth century to the Farringdon Road barrows in the twentieth, fairs and markets have played a crucial role in the circulation of books. Traveling peddlers and itinerant printers have also acted as intermediaries in distributing books beyond the reach of conventional shops and in spreading trade practices. In this volume of the Publishing Pathways Series, leading book historians investigate the presence of the book trade in the streets and public spaces of Britain and continental Europe. The essays range across geographical as well as chronological frontiers to follow the movement of books, ideas and people. Contributors include John Flood, Clive Griffin, Michael Harris, Ian Maclean, John Morris, Jerome Salman and David Stoker. 240 pages. hardcover. 6 x 8.5 inches.