Remembrance of Things Past: Literary Annuals’ Self-Historicization

Exploring 19th Century Gift Books in a Special Collection: A Collection Analysis

“…The Industrial Revolution sparked a culture that after a hundred years became comfortable with and acclimated to mass production. One machine that was improved upon during this time period was the printing press; along with this were improvements made to the craft of engraving and book making (Mourão, 2012). Books and other types of publications became easier to provide to the public from cheap to expensive, depending on the craftsmanship and materials used to create them.…”

“…The gift book is a genre that includes the keywords: annuals, keepsakes, tokens, and souvenirs. Mourão (2012) explains that the titles might sometimes reference history or contribute to the memory of an occasion. These books were described as being very decorative and alluring with gilt edges, beautiful bindings, and lovely engravings to delight and impress the recipient.…”

“…Women progressively became the target audience and large contributors for this kind of publication (Library of Congress, 2012). Literature found in this genre has sometimes been described as lacking intellectual substance but having high moral standards in order to sway women of the day (Mourão, 2012). While some very famous English and American literary authors beloved today may have been featured in a gift book anthology or even produced a complete work in the genre; the overall reputation of it being of low cerebral quality did repel some who wanted to create literary work that was not morally censored.…”