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Authorship in the Days of Johnson: Being a Study of the Relation Between Author, Patron, Publisher, and Public, 1726-1780
Paperback
Literary CriticismBusiness of WritingBritish History
ISBN13: 9781025292861
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 278
Weight: 0.87
Height: 0.58 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
Authorship in the Days of Johnson is a comprehensive study of the literary profession during the mid-eighteenth century, focusing specifically on the years 1726 to 1780. Arthur Simons Collins examines the intricate and evolving relationships between writers, their patrons, the burgeoning publishing industry, and the growing reading public. This era, dominated by the formidable presence of Samuel Johnson, marks a significant transition from the system of private aristocratic patronage to a more commercialized literary marketplace.
The work explores how the decline of noble sponsorship and the rise of the professional bookseller reshaped the creative process and the social standing of the author. Collins provides detailed insights into the economic realities of writing, the legal developments in copyright, and the growth of libraries and periodicals that expanded the reach of the printed word. By analyzing the lives and struggles of Grub Street writers alongside the successes of established literary figures, the book offers a vivid portrait of the cultural landscape of Georgian England. It remains an essential resource for understanding the historical foundations of the modern book trade and the professionalization of the English man of letters.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
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Authorship in the Days of Johnson: Being a Study of the Relation Between Author, Patron, Publisher, and Public, 1726-1780
Collins, Arthur Simons
Hardcover
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Collins, Arthur Simons
Authorship in the Days of Johnson: Being a Study of the Relation Between Author, Patron, Publisher, and Public, 1726-1780
Collins, Arthur Simons
Hardcover
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