Dr. Roger Schmidt

History of the Book

Books are an example of a perfect technology: a book printed in 1722 still works as well as when it was first printed and bound. This is a hands-on workshop looking at actual 18th century books. We explore the construction of a book: how paper is made, folded, bounded into a book – including the differences between folio, quarto, and octavo; end papers, including marbling techniques; letterpress technology for printing – including differences in fonts, case, and setting; cover and binding materials; and discussion of marginalia.

Jane Austen’s World

An exploration of the cultural and literary influences upon Jane Austen and her writings – and upon modern Janeite culture, especially in film adaptations. Part of this includes major 18th century British genres, such as the epistolary novel, the gothic novel, the travelogue, and satirical works, as well as specific authors like Samuel Johnson, Frances Burney, Samuel Richardson, Ann Radcliffe, and Jonathan Swift. Presentations can be tailored to specifically address any of her major novels: Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, and Persuasion as well as her incomplete novels: Sanditon and The Watsons and her juvenilia writings.

History of Writing Technologies

What was it like to write with a quill? This hands-on presentation explores some of the oldest writing technologies, such as clay tablets, reeds, and quills and progresses to modern technologies like fountain pens. Also included is a discussion of the development of the letterpress and the typewriter.