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Although Jim's phrasing in his message (which I think he intended to be private) might be interpreted in the way Germaine suggests, I think that there is an important observation behind it. I studied under Thomas Tanselle and his influence pursues me to this day, so I consider bibliographical and codicological studies a very important part of textual scholarship. History of the Book, however, is currently being debated (perhaps because we lack a clear definition of what it is) and this is a whole other issue. As some of you know, Peter Shillingsburg organized a round table in Leicester yesterday in an attempt to answer "What is book history?" Those of us who were able to attend found a challenging panel of serious scholars considering this question. If I understood correctly (those who were here are invited to point out whether I misunderstood something), Sukanta Chaudhuri gave a precise definition of the subject by stating that it referred to non-material aspects of the book such as trade and circulation, the history of the publication process, pricing, etc. I liked the definition, though I have to say, for myself, I would never consider making this the main part of my work. I would only be interested in book history defined as before, as I am interested in typography: as a contribution to a much larger exercise in textual scholarship which could benefit from this knowledge. In a way, I am grateful for Jim's message, as it is giving us the opportunity to discuss our positions around this subject. Best, BB On 21 Mar 2007, at 21:44, Warwick Gould wrote: > Dear Germaine: I don't think this shard is 'against Bibliography', > or even the History of the Book, imaginatively conceived. I know, > like, respect and greatly admire Jim Mays as a noble, clinical, > scrupulous editor who would always extol the connexions between a > seriously conceived, McKenzie-ite Historical Bibliography and Book > History against the dulled edge of an anxiety-of-theory-driven, > cultural-studies inspired surrogate. Ever WG > > Professor Warwick Gould FRSL, FRSA, FEA > Director, Institute of English Studies, > School of Advanced Study, University of London, > Room 304, Senate House, Malet St > London WC1E 7HU > +44 (020) 7862 8673 (voice) > +44 (020) 7862 8720 (fax) > www.sas.ac.uk/ies <http://www.sas.ac.uk/ies> > > > > > > ________________________________ > > From: The list of the European Society for Textual Scholarship and > the Society for Textual Scholarship on behalf of Germaine Warkentin > Sent: Wed 21/03/2007 19:00 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: History of the Book Masters Degree > > > > "discursive guff from the dulled edge of cultural studies" -- wow, > do I ever want to cite that! I have a chapter in the book I'm > writing called "Against Bibliography" and this particular shard is > priceless. Permission granted? Contributions from others are > warmly encouraged; I have been collecting good and bad jokes about > bibliography/book history for some months now. cheers, Germaine > > -- > ********************************************************************** > * > Germaine Warkentin // English (Emeritus) > VC 205, Victoria College (University of Toronto), > 73 Queen's Park Crescent East, Toronto, Ont. M5S 1K7, CANADA > [log in to unmask] (fax number on request) > ********************************************************************** > *