Texts and Transitions: Studies in the History of MSS and Printed Books
A new monograph series from the Early Book Society

This projected series is based on the ideals and aims of the Early Book Society. It will publish monographs dealing with late medieval manuscripts and early printed books to about 1550, particularly those that explore the transition from manuscript to print and questions to do with readers and literacy, owners and patronage, the dissemination of texts, and the reception of medieval texts. A ‘text' may be either a word or an image, where a picture serves also as a text that can be read and interpreted. The focus is mainly on manuscripts and books produced in England or for the English market, and closely related French and Continental works. Books to be encouraged would include monographs of about 250 - 300 pages, collections of previously published essays by one author (updated and revised), or in some cases essay collections with a clearly unified theme or one main subject. It is anticipated that most of the monographs to be published would include illustrations. Pictures would be reproduced in black and white, though color illustrations may be included in special cases. Authors are responsible for purchasing photographs and securing the permissions to reproduce them.

The immediate organizers and general editors of the series are Martha Driver (Pace University, NY) and Derek Pearsall (Harvard University, emeritus). They will have the help of an advisory board whom they will consult about proposed volumes and working practice. The board comprises scholars expert in the various fields of late medieval and early modern literature and culture and in the history of manuscripts and books. The members of the board are: Julia Boffey (Queen Mary, University of London), Jennifer Britnell (University of Durham), Ardis Butterfield (University College, London), Philippa Hardman (University of Reading), Dieter Mehl (University of Bonn), Alastair Minnis (Ohio State University), Oliver Pickering (Brotherton Library, Leeds), John Scattergood (Trinity College, Dublin), and John Thompson (Queen's University, Belfast).

Inquiries about MS submissions may be addressed to Martha Driver, Derek Pearsall, or Simon Forde at Brepols.