In recent years, the growth of History of the Book as a major, multi-disciplinary area of investigation has energised traditional disciplines such as history and literary studies in new and unforeseen ways. History of the Book looks at literature as it is embodied in its technological products—mainly those of the print industry, but also manuscripts, engravings, and electronic texts. It studies the various personnel associated with the making of books: not just authors, but also printers, publishers, illustrators, booksellers, and of course, readers. In so doing it has restored a measure of historicism and objectivity to literary studies, by insisting on a rigorous engagement with the records and what they tell us about modes of production, transmission and distribution of books.