Books for Idle Hours : Nineteenth-Century Publishing and the Rise of Summer Reading
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| Title: | Books for Idle Hours : Nineteenth-Century Publishing and the Rise of Summer Reading |
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| Description: | The publishing phenomenon of summer reading, often focused on novels set in vacation destinations, started in the nineteenth century, as both print culture and tourist culture expanded in the United States. As an emerging middle class increasingly embraced summer leisure as a marker of social status, book publishers sought new market opportunities, authors discovered a growing readership, and more readers indulged in lighter fare. Drawing on publishing records, book reviews, readers'diaries, and popular novels of the period, Donna Harrington-Lueker explores the beginning of summer reading and the backlash against it. Countering fears about the dangers of leisurely reading—especially for young women—publishers framed summer reading not as a disreputable habit but as a respectable pastime and welcome respite. Books for Idle Hours sheds new light on an ongoing seasonal publishing tradition. |
| Authors: | Donna Harrington-Lueker |
| Resource Type: | eBook. |
| Subjects: | Leisure--United States--History--19th century, Publishers and publishing--United States--History--19th century, Books and reading--United States--History--19th century, Tourism--United States--History--19th century, Tourism in literature, Summer in literature |
| Categories: | LITERARY CRITICISM / General, LITERARY CRITICISM / American / General, SOCIAL SCIENCE / General, |
| Database: | eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) |
| Abstract: | The publishing phenomenon of summer reading, often focused on novels set in vacation destinations, started in the nineteenth century, as both print culture and tourist culture expanded in the United States. As an emerging middle class increasingly embraced summer leisure as a marker of social status, book publishers sought new market opportunities, authors discovered a growing readership, and more readers indulged in lighter fare. Drawing on publishing records, book reviews, readers'diaries, and popular novels of the period, Donna Harrington-Lueker explores the beginning of summer reading and the backlash against it. Countering fears about the dangers of leisurely reading—especially for young women—publishers framed summer reading not as a disreputable habit but as a respectable pastime and welcome respite. Books for Idle Hours sheds new light on an ongoing seasonal publishing tradition. |
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| ISBN: | 9781625343826 9781613766309 |
