The Development of American Literature via American Book

The Development of American Literature via American Book Publishing Several influential factors have been important to the development of American authors and the literature produced in the 19th century. One of the more critical factors was the onset of Industrialized American book produceing. Before 1 820, printed media was generally manufactured and sold by counseling of printers, binders, and book dealers working separately (Gabbler-Hover, Steelmaker).In the years that allowed, American businessmen merged the processes and created successful create houses which created a need for the development of American literature. In the primaeval sass, limited resources such as financial stability and viable transportation made publishing In the united States a less than meshingable venture. The middle sass, however, generated technology that helped to dramatically increase profitability in the trade.Progressive methods of transportation such as the opening of the Erie Canal (Gabbler-H over, Steelmaker), inventions such as stereotyping, the Ron press, the application of steam power, mechanistic typecasting/ typesetting, and parvenue methods of producing illustrations created a revolution in book production that bred competition for Imported fiction (Encyclopedia Britannica). American publishers routinely and Illegally reproduced copies of British and European text. Rifting from readers who were animated for access to foreign fiction. Copyright laws didnt regulate imported texts irresistible revenues inspired other companies to begin producing their own editions of popular imported literature. This practice of high profit piracy among American publishers was frustrating to American writers who needed an opportunity to prove their viability (Gabbler-Hover, Steelmaker). British and European authors were established In the American market and (obviously) werent viewed as a financial risk.American authors were required to absorb the cost of printing and distribution . Innovative authors such as Washington Irving and James Finnier Cooper profited from this practice by arranging to bear on a substantial percentage of the revenues. Others such as Henry Headwords Longfellow and Henry Melville purchased their own stereotype plates and rented them to publishers for royalties from printed copies. Authors who were successful In periodical publications now had an opportunity to publish books (Gabbler-Hover, Steelmaker).Changes to copyright laws forced illegal printing to become legitimate in its association with the international publishing industry. As federal regulations were being enforced, American publishers started to try on out original American text appropriate for publication (Ecuadorian). A marketplace that had been somewhat unavailable was now open to domestic writers. The Philadelphia born publishing house of M. Carrey and Sons was one of the first to promote American literature. Their Impressive list Finnier Cooper (The Last of the Musici ans).In Boston, Ticking and Fields listed major American authors that included Nathaniel Hawthorne and his novel, The violent Letter which began as a short story. With encouragement from Fields, Hawthorne expanded his story into an instant best-seller. As a promoter for the companys writers, Fields set a new standard for marketing American literature to the public by offering colorful posters (to bookstores) that advertised Ticking and Fields publications and by cleverly planting favorable reviews of the companys in vogue(p) releases (Gabbler-Hover, Steelmaker).Fields methods of promotions and marketing demonstrated continued growth and interest in American literature. The introduction of the literary agent revolutionized the financial climate for publishers and authors. Because an important element in the agents value to an author is his capacity to extract better terms than the author would for himself, it is not surprising that publishers have resented the intrusion into person al, and often friendly relationships between themselves and their authors(Encyclopedia Britannica).Professional authority meant higher(prenominal) royalties and advances for the writer, but it also meant a decrease in profit for the publisher. Although the use of agents wasnt a welcome practice in the publishing industry, representatives pressing for higher aments to writers may have been indirectly responsible for aggressive marketing and promotions that emerged in the early part of the 20th century (Gabbler-Hover, Steelmaker).