J. R. de J. Jackson Lecture in Book History
When and Where
Description
Although intact archives exist only for a few major publishers of the period, including Longman, John Murray, and Bentley/Colburn, collectively they published hundreds of women writers during the long eighteenth century and provide a wealth of mostly unexamined material. These archives contain correspondence, expense ledgers, copyright assignments and commission ledgers that offer detailed information about women’s direct involvement in the making of their books, yet most extant scholarship on these publishers ignores their engagements with women writers. Beyond these major archives, there are collections of correspondence and copyrights by antiquarians and bibliophiles, letter-books kept by other publishers, and correspondence, though rarely are these gathered in a single archive. These sources can be combined with examinations of women’s printed books to support a detailed reconstruction of women’s long-standing engagements with their publishers. Professor Levy’s work in these archives demonstrates the careful attention and expert knowledge women brought to their publications, as they actively sought to shape their books as material and commercial objects.
In addition, Professor Levy will lead a special seminar for students the day after the lecture (Friday, October 18, 10:00 am) in the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library. This seminar will draw on materials from the Fisher collection and will develop themes from her talk. This seminar is open to all graduate students in BHPC’s participating units, including students not enrolled in the BHPC program, and to upper-year undergraduates in the BMS program. Advance registration for the seminar is required. To register, contact our Program Coordinator. Space is limited, so please sign up only if you know you can attend.
Speaker
Prof. Michelle Levy, Simon Fraser University
Contact Information
Sponsors
- Book History & Print Culture
- Book & Media Studies Program at St Michael’s College