2025/09/10 by Vivienne Seonaid Dunstan · 2 voices
Arts and Humanities · Economics, Econometrics and Finance · #Historical Art and Culture Studies #Historical Economic and Social Studies #Scottish History and National Identity
paper · pdf · doi:10.1017/s096392682510031x
openalex publication_date 2025/09/10 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/02
Abstract This article combines book history and urban history to examine the spread of the print trade and facilities for reading in Scotland by the 1820s, using a Scotland-wide trade directory as its main source. The article demonstrates how support for reading, including printers, bookshops and venues for reading, extended far and wide within the Scottish urban hierarchy – from the largest cities to the smallest towns and villages. Variations between different types of towns are discussed, and local case studies provide further insights. The article provides fresh perspectives on Scottish urbanization, through its snapshot view of Scotland’s towns in the mid-1820s.