ENG-389 History of the Book
In this class we will explore an often-ignored aspect of literature: the physical way, manuscripts, books, e-readers, it has been produced and circulated to readers through the centuries. Through lectures, hands-on workshops, field trips, and written assignments, we will practice skills including paper- and ink-making, critical editing, and printing. Students will learn about the relationship between writing and its material contexts, and work with a wide range of historical literary materials in local archives, from handwritten manuscripts to Victorian magazines. In understanding how the book has developed through history, the class will reconsider the old saying, "don't judge a book by its cover """"