Abstract:
Printing held particular appeal for those with literary, educational, and social interests and the concept of the meritorious printer serving his fellow-countryman was an ideal shared by many of the trade. Prefaces written by early printers invariably speak of their educational and literary goals or show a professional pride in their accomplishments. Frequently such prefaces describe the services rendered by their craft to society and it is not uncommon for printers to declare that they have given greater consideration to the common good than to their own self-interest.
Aware of the power of the printed word, printers made good use of the opportunity to educate and to mould public opinion. The provision of vernacular texts for a new class of lay readers opened up a sphere of influence to the printer which was recognized and exploited. In most of the sixteenth century movements for the dispelling of ignorance, the promotion of the vernacular language or the exposure of social abuses, printers took a lead. Moreover, many were influential religious reformers intent upon directing the public's choice of reading material and influencing popular religious beliefs. Motivated by deep convictions, they were prepared to place their business and liberty at risk.
Printers are to be found among the writers of all kinds of literature: as authors (and especially as editors) they preserved the nation's literary heritage. Further, they contributed to the development of language, literature, the writing of history, and to the dissemination of theological ideas. Classical works were made available by them in translation and they succeeded in popularizing hitherto specialized areas of knowledge like medicine, law and local government. Through their efforts the learned were encouraged to place their knowledge at the disposal of society and to accept that commonplace matters were not unworthy subjects for their attention. Printers themselves wrote on the major social questions of their day: on rebellion, on enclosure, on poverty; and on public manners, morals and vices. In attempting to enlighten the ignorant, they made some contribution to the popular literature which exposed fraud and revealed the deceptions practised by the wily and the dishonest upon more simple folk.
The mass-production of books had a major effect on all aspects of English society and profoundly affected its traditions. In the several movements for popular education, for social reform and for religious change, printers assumed a leading role. They raised matters of national importance to the notice of the public and kept the issues in current focus. Although much that they wrote themselves was not great literature, nevertheless, they worked in its service and they wielded a powerful influence upon contemporary society.
