Children's Book Publishing in the Hand-Press Period (c.1740-1840): a symposium

Saturday 11 May 2013

Few would disagree that the development of children's literature owes as much to the trade through which the books and other printed materials were generated as it does to the authors and illustrators. But this side of the early history of children's literature has not been as thoroughly investigated as might be hoped. For this reason, the Children’s Books History Society (CBHS) is hosting a one-day symposium to examine the history of publishing for children in the long-eighteenth century. The symposium aims both to outline ongoing research into the earliest period of children's book publishing and to share problems arising therefrom.

The symposium will include papers by:

Andrea Immel, looking at John Newbery;

David Stoker, looking at John Marshall;

Jill Shefrin, looking at the non-book commodities produced by children’s publishers;

Nigel Tattersfield, looking at Thomas Saint of Newcastle;

Matthew Grenby, looking at William Godwin’s ‘Juvenile Library’;

Brian Alderson, offering concluding remarks.

Time has been set aside in the programme for questions and discussion.

The symposium will take place at 10.30am – 4.30 pm on Saturday 11 May 2013 at St Paul’s Girls’ School, Brook Green, Hammersmith, London, W6 7BS.

A registration fee of £25 for CBHS Members and £30 for non-members will be payable.

For more information, or to register in advance, please contact the CBHS secretary, Robert Kirkpatrick (020-8567-4521, rkirkpatrick.molesworth@virgin.net). Registration and payment can be made in advance (preferable) or on the day.