Pforzheimer university professor and director of the harvard university library. Explore books by robert darnton with our selection at. Portable and accessible, they require no power supply. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. The great cat massacre and other episodes in french cultural history is an influential collection of essays on french cultural history by the american historian robert darnton, first published in 1984. The harvard university gazette online published a profile of professor darnton when he was appointed the carl h. Before taking up professorship at the harvard university, professor darnton was the shelby cullom davis professor of european history at princeton university. Robert choate darnton born may 10, 1939 is an american cultural historian and academic. He is founder of the gutenberge program, sponsored by mellon foundation. Robert darnton books list of books by author robert darnton. Robert darnton work represents a departure from the established strains of scholarship, which may be traced to their nineteenth century origins through. A former professor of european history at princeton university, robert darnton is carl h. See all books authored by robert darnton, including the great cat massacre and other episodes in french cultural history, and the case for books. His latest books are the case for books 2009, the devil in the holy water, or the art of slander in france from louis xiv to napoleon 2009, and poetry and the police.
In the 1982 article from robert darntons what is the history of books. Histoire du livre in france, geschichte des buchwesens in germany, history of books or of the book in englishspeaking countries. Is the printed book resilient enough to survive the digital revolution, or will it become obsolete. Robert darnton is the author of the great cat massacre 3. Robert darntons remarkable history of what followed him, from 1775 to 1800. Jul 22, 2009 is the printed book resilient enough to survive the digital revolution, or will it become obsolete. With this in mind, its component pieces take several courses toward their goal. Darnton is a trustee of the new york public library. And other episodes in french cultural history paperback. Professor robert darnton in a 2011 interview, i asked the american cultural historian and academic librarian how he sees the future of the printed word in the case for books you wrote that the explosion of electronic modes of communication is as revolutionary as the invention of. Publishing and the book trade in france and francophone europe, 17691789. The literary underground of the old regime by robert darnton.
The production of fake, semifalse, and true but compromising snippets of news reached a peak in eighteenthcentury london, when newspapers began to circulate among a broad public. In the case for books, robert darnton, an intellectual pioneer in the field of the history of the book and director of harvard universitys library, offers an indepth examination of the book. Robert darntons three case studies cast censorship in a new light. Dec 19, 2008 before taking up professorship at the harvard university, professor darnton was the shelby cullom davis professor of european history at princeton university. Darntons book gives us not only a history of 18thcentury publishing but a notion of how the lower orders of literature contributed to the fall of the old regime the reader who wants a glimpse of the world behind a very unusual literature and an enlightening look at a famous time in history will get an eyeful in this surprising and. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. John darnton has worked for the new york times for forty years as a reporter, editor, and foreign correspondent. In 1788, london had ten dailies, eight triweeklies, and nine weekly newspapers, and their stories usually consisted of only a paragraph. Robert darntons most popular book is the great cat massacre. Enlightenment darnton describes the results of his research as a book about a book. The esoteric elements of book history needed to be integrated into an overview that would show how the parts could connect to form a wholeor what i characterized as a communications circuit.
Aug 03, 2010 after reading robert darntons book the case for books. In the plural the author inscribes the first divergent situation. Alumnus, formerly professor of history, princeton university, director of the harvard university library. Professor darnton has taught european history courses at princeton since 1968. I came across robert darntons beautifully articulated essay collection, the case for books. History department, princeton university 129 dickinson hall, princeton, nj 085441017 phone. Aside from the effective title, its warmly designed, aptly metaphorical cover drew me in, inviting me to flip through its pages. Fifty years of depoliticized history had come to an end.
Available in the national library of australia collection. The revolution was not merely evenementielle, furet claimed, but also political. In 1979 darnton studied the history of the publication. In paris in the 1730s, a group of printing apprentices tortured and ritually killed all the cats they could find. The true history of fake news robert darnton the new. Darnton the darwin conspiracy the young charles darwin embarks on the fiveyear voyage aboard the beagle he returns home with his historymaking theory of evolution but he cant bring himself to publish it he falls ill and turns into a recluse because of a dark secret that he carries to his death bedit emerges 150 years later. Robert darnton primary author only author division. Darnton is not only the director of the harvard library, he is also a historian who has devoted a great deal of time and energy to. After reading robert darntons book the case for books. Harvard university library director darnton george washingtons false teeth. Nov 14, 2009 in this motley collection of essays on the history and future of the book, robert darnton points out that they have many practical advantages. Browse author series lists, sequels, pseudonyms, synopses, book covers, ratings and awards.
In recent years he has taught an undergraduate survey course on france 16851800 emphasizing different modes of historical analysis, and an undergraduate seminar on the history of the book, which includes handson work with 18thcentury printing techniques. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. Nov 26, 2012 in the case for books, robert darnton, an intellectual pioneer in the field of the history of the book and director of harvard universitys library, offers an indepth examination of the book. He is also the author of five novels, including the darwin conspiracy and the best seller, neanderthal. In the course of this work professor darnton has developed an influential anthropological approach to history, has advanced novel interpretations of the french. Robert darnton s remarkable history of what followed him, from 1775 to 1800. And other episodes in french cultural history penguin history by darnton, robert and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Teaching european history, and then some specialized courses, for example, in history and anthropology as something that interests me a lot. The tendency toward fragmentation and specialization still exists. In the case for books the historian reuses his consecrated formula by publishing a book about books p. The founder of the guttenberge program, he is the author of many books. In this lasting collection of essays, robert darnton an intellectual pioneer in the field of this history of the book lends unique authority to the life, role, and legacy of the book in society. Revolution sans revolutionaries by robert darnton the new.
Darnton is not only the director of the harvard library, he is also a historian who has devoted a great deal of time and energy to the history of books, writing, printing and reading. Even more provocative, arlette farges book first appeared in french in 1989, two years before the creation of the. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Robert darnton is currently considered a single author. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. Books by robert darnton author of the great cat massacre. The books title is derived from its most famous chapter which describes and interprets an unusual source detailing. What was revolutionary about the french revolution. In tracing the publishing history of diderots encyclopedie, robert darnton investigates the workings of the literary marketplace and demonstrates how ideas are diffused through society. Past, present and future i would recommend it for every bibliophiles books to read list. That history has not fared so well as the history of diderotsencyclopedie, or the philosophy of the enlightenment, its intellectual history, and the major enlightenment writers including, at last, diderot himself. He is also the author of five novels, including the darwin conspiracy and. The great cat massacre and other episodes in french cultural. In this motley collection of essays on the history and future of the book, robert darnton points out that they have many practical advantages.
Robert darnton introduces us to the shadowy world of pirate publishers, garret scribblers, underthecloak book peddlers, smugglers, and police spies that composed the literary underground of the enlightenment. The publications section of this website brings together information about works published by robert darnton that concern the history of books and cultural history in general. This page is for anyone interested in making, contributing or purchasing a paynton history book. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. His first major prize was the leo gershoy award for the business of enlightenment in 1979. Darnton is a pioneer in the field of the history of the book. Robert darnton was educated at harvard university a. Distinguished scholars discussed the implications of warburgs thought and vision for the history of art, images and cultures, illuminating the past and revealing the potential of warburgs. In this lasting collection of essays, robert darntonan intellectual pioneer in the field of this history of the booklends unique authority to the life, role, and legacy of the book in society. An unconventional guide to the eighteenth century, 2003, etc. Norton another contradiction was at work in india in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The good way to do history by robert darnton the new york.