The Birth and Death of the Author: A Multi-Authored History of Authorship in Print

The Birth and Death of the Author explores the changing nature of authorship as a concept through eight specialist interventions by international scholars, focusing on the relationship between authors and readers from the fifteenth to the twenty-first century.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 202 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The Birth and Death of the Author is a comprehensive exploration of the evolving concept of authorship. Through a series of insightful interventions by a diverse group of esteemed international scholars, this work presents a historical account of print authorship across a range of author case studies spanning from the fifteenth to the twenty-first century. The introduction serves as a foundational survey, delving into the prehistory of print authorship and establishing the historical and theoretical framework that underpins the subsequent seven chapters. It particularly engages with the history of authorship materials and technology, placing it in dialogue with the critical examination of the author up to and beyond the crisis articulated by Roland Barthes in his renowned work, "The Death of the Author."

Each subsequent chapter in this multi-authored narrative takes a singular author or work from every century since the advent of print, delving into the intricate relationship between the author and the reader. By examining the works of Thomas Hoccleve and John Lydgate (Andrew Galloway, Cornell University), William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe (Rory Loughnane, University of Kent), John Taylor, the Water Poet (Edel Semple, University College Cork), Samuel Richardson (Natasha Simonova, University of Oxford), Herman Melville (and his enigmatic scrivener, 'Bartleby') (William E. Engel, Sewanee, The University of the South), James Joyce (Brad Tuggle, University of Alabama), and Grant Morrison (Darragh Greene, University College Dublin), the book offers a profound exploration of the complexities inherent in the concept of authorship.

Through these diverse perspectives, The Birth and Death of the Author sheds light on the ever-changing nature of authorship, challenging our understanding of creativity, identity, and the power of storytelling. It serves as a valuable resource for scholars, students, and enthusiasts alike, providing a rich tapestry of insights into the evolution of authorship across centuries and genres.

Weight: 371g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367539832