Prior to the late medieval period in England, reading was an activity largely confined to those who were fluent in Latin, and who either had access to libraries or who could afford the high prices books commanded in the marketplace. However around 1400, thanks to technological developments and more frequent translation of Latin works into English, a larger portion of the population began to make the reading of books, especially utilitarian books such as almanacs, medical recipe collections, and herbals part of their lives, particularly in regard to how they managed their health, homes, and the conduct of their lives.
In her recently published Reading Practice; The Pursuit of Natural Knowledge from Manuscript to Print, Prof. Melissa Reynolds presents her discoveries into “how ordinary people grew comfortable learning from commonplace manuscripts and printed books.” Unlike studies of the large-scale effects of the invention and spread of the printing press itself, Prof. Reynolds’ book explores the more subtle changes in the perceptions of common people toward books and the usefulness of them to their own lives, that in turn led to much larger societal changes including the advancement of medicine and natural philosophy, as well as changes in religious and governmental structures.
Anyone interested in the history of books, and especially those who study the history and philosophy of science and medicine, should take note of this important new book.
