Joseph

Abstract

Joseph A. Dane’s What is a Book? The Study of Early Printed Books is a much-welcomed new introduction to the history of the book. It serves as a comprehensive overview of the field of historical book studies and focuses strongly on readers with a background in philology, particularly in English literature. The author’s intention is to explain basic bibliographical terminology and familiarise students with the tools of bibliographical description. Dane, a professor of English with a strong background in Chaucer studies and bibliography, has published widely on his production and reception of books in the Early Modern period. This book is the product of the profound personal bibliographical knowledge of Dane. The title of the book is slightly misleading, given that he is not interested in discussing the nature of the book or its importance. Nevertheless, it is a worthwhile read for anyone seeking to understand the production of the book in the Early Modern period.