Manuscripts, Market and the Transition to Print in Late Medieval Brittany

An unusually fine volume, in terms of the breadth of scholarship, and quality of the images, this volume offers a thorough survey of the creation and use of manuscripts and early printed books in Brittany and among Breton readers living in other cities. Focusing on non-monastic books created and collected from 1364-1532 (when Brittany was an independent duchy), Booton (an independent scholar) describes the manuscripts and their contents, the collections, collectors, their patterns of collecting, commercial trade, and the creation of booksellers and publishers. The volume, which is well-illustrated with b&w and some color plates, concludes with full annotated catalogs of book artisans and early books and manuscripts in Breton private libraries. Impressive for its scope, clarity of organization, and lucid writing style, this volume sets a high standard for histories of the book. Annotation c2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Diane E. Booton, Ph.D., is an independent scholar specializing in the history of the book in late medieval and early modern Europe. She has published on manuscript production, illumination and patronage.