From Grub Street to Fleet Street

In this book, Bob Clarke examines the origination and development of the English newspaper from the sixteenth century through to end of the nineteenth century. Along the way this narrative is illuminated with stories of the characters who contributed to the growth of the English press in all its rich variety of forms, and how newspapers tailored their contents to particular audiences. Beginning with a detailed chronological history, the volume then moves on to discuss specific themes important to the development of the English newspaper, including such issues as state: censorship and struggles for the freedom of the press, the growth of advertising and its effect on editorial policy, the impact on editorial strategies of taxation policy, increased literacy rates and social changes, the rise of provincial newspapers and the birth of the Sunday paper and the popular press. The final third of the book describes the content of newspapers, and includes numerous extracts and illustrations that vividly portray the way in which news was reported to provide a colourful picture of the social history of their times.