Runge and Rogers, both of the University of South Florida, present current research by leading specialists, along with contributions by younger scholars, to examine 18th-century writing through
the lens of book history. The 12 essays collected focus on writers and publishers rather than readers. Major themes include relationships between writers and publishers, the development of
modern conventions of the material book, and the role of commercial presses. Specific topics covered include household manuscript books, episodes in the printing history of Frances Burney's
popular novel Cecilia, and an original relational database using GIS to map Grub Street media information in order to visualize relationships among the people and texts that populated the
streets of 18th-century London. About 35 b&w historical illustrations from books are included. Most of the essays originated at the 20th DeBartolo Conference on Eighteenth-Century Studies
at the University of South Florida. The book is distributed by Associated University Presses. Annotation 穢2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
