Manuscripts and Printed Books in Europe 1350-1550 Packaging, Presentation and Consumption

This new volume showcases innovative research on the history of the book from scholars in a broad array of fields, including English and French studies, history, music, and art history. With special attention paid to the physical book, Manuscripts and Printed Books in Europe 13501550tackles a wide range of topics, including information on the binding, visual presentation and internal organization of books; the producers, owners, and readers of books during this period; and the experience of reading itself. A broad definition of consumption helps inform a diversity of academic perspectives and includes not simply reading or buying the book, but also bibliophagia (the ingestion of books), consumption by worms and fleas, by fire and censors and a variety of more literal and figurative interpretations.

Emma Cayley is Senior Lecturer in French and Head of Modern Languages at the University of Exeter. Susan Powell holds a Chair in Medieval Texts and Culture in the School of Languages and Social Sciences at the University of Salford.