A chapbook is a type of small printed booklet that was a popular medium for street literature throughout early modern Europe. The form emerged in Britain during the sixteenth century, reached its greatest popularity during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and was also used in North America.
Facts
Place of OriginBritain, though the form was also used in North America. 1 Notable ExampleRichard Johnson's Seven Champions of Christendom (1596), one of the most popular and influential chapbooks. 1 Defining TraitA small, cheaply produced booklet, illustrated with crude woodcuts and printed on a single sheet folded into 8, 12, 16, or 24 pages, sometimes bound with a saddle stitch. 1 Sources
1. Chapbook (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation (Wikipedia)Lead section, second sentence
Chapbooks were usually produced cheaply, illustrated with crude woodcuts and printed on a single sheet folded into 8, 12, 16, or 24 pages, sometimes bound with a saddle stitch.
History section, third paragraph, opening sentence
The form factor originated in Britain, but was also used in North America.
Influence section, second paragraph, opening sentence
One of the most popular and influential chapbooks was Richard Johnson's Seven Champions of Christendom (1596), believed to be the source for the introduction of Saint George into English folk plays.
View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.