Books and their makers during the Middle Ages : $b A study of the conditions of the production and distribution of literature from the fall of the Roman empire to the close of the seventeenth century, Vol. IIPutnam, George Haven
History
Books and their makers during the Middle Ages : $b A study of the conditions of the production and distribution of literature from the fall of the Roman empire to the close of the seventeenth century, Vol. II
Putnam, George Haven
Books -- History -- 400-1450; Copyright; Freedom of the press -- History -- To 1500; Manuscripts; Printers
Among the noteworthy titles in the two schedules I find “The
Koran,” Commentaries on Aristotle by Hegendorf, a long series of
Bibles from the presses of Robert Estienne and others, the works of
Melanchthon, the works of Gesner, various writings of Hegendorf,
a long series of writings of Erasmus, specified by separate
titles, followed by his complete works, “Opera Omnia,” the works
of Bullinger, the works of Cornelius Agrippa, the works of Jerome
Cardan, the works of Calvin, Huss, Œcolampadius, and Servetus, the
“Commentaries” of Julius Cæsar, edited by Tigurinus, the works of
Reuchlin, the “Lexicon of Civil Law,” by Spiegel, the works of
Luther, Bucerus, and Börrhaus, the “De Officiis” of Cicero, edited
by Betuleus, the same, edited by Melanchthon, the writings of Peter
Martyr, the works of Dolet, the works of Ulrich von Hutten.
The Spanish list includes the versions in Spanish of several books
of Erasmus, who appears to have been one of the most thoroughly
“condemned” and at the same time one of the most widely circulated
authors of Europe; also all the editions in the vernacular of the
Old and New Testaments.
It was doubtless the case, as has been indicated in previous
chapters, that the general circulation of these official _Indexes_
had the effect of calling public attention to the books described
and unquestionably kept certain writings in demand which would
otherwise have been lost sight of very speedily.
The general circulation of the books of more permanent importance
was also materially furthered by the information given in these
official denunciations, information which was particularly
serviceable at a time when there were so many difficulties in the
way of making known to the public the existence of books. The
ecclesiastical condemnation undoubtedly blocked the use of certain
books as texts in the universities, but the surreptitious sales
probably more than offset the circulation which was lost in this
way. An incidental result was probably the furthering the sale
of unauthorised editions at the expense of those issued by the
authorised publishers. This interference was bitterly complained
of, for instance by Erasmus.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account