In the 1600's most
cultured socialites considered chapbooks vulgar. These 'flimsy' booklets were
often sold in less than reputable establishments and contained a variety of
less than quality poetry, stories, ballads and political dissent. Often filled
with spelling mistakes, factual blunders and little in the way of quality
assurance these chapbooks often connected with the uncultured alone.
Today you will find
several colleges that are working to collect copies of aging chapbooks.
International universities have collections of hundred and even thousands of
these manuscripts.
What are chapbooks?
This type of
literature provides a relatively small grouping of thoughts or poetry in a
booklet form that is generally unacceptable in traditional book markets. The
length of a chapbook rarely exceeds 50 pages and can be assembled using a home
printer and publishing software or using an office supply store that provides
copying services.
Chapbook History
In the past these
booklets were sold by peddlers to others who enjoyed the simplified nature of
the work.
Some chapbooks were
purchased if only because paper was scarce and the pages of the chapbook were
used to wrap food items for transport.
Chapbooks have
historically received very little respect and ultimately faded away for a time
with the advent of mass-produced newspapers and other periodicals.
In many respects
historical chapbooks are now considered desirable folk art and are appreciated
in ways the original authors would find surprising.
Chapbooks Today
In the twenty-first
century chapbooks are seeing a prominence they have not seen in the past.
Today chapbooks are
successfully used to promote an author’s poetry or short stories. They are
marketed online and in specialty shops. Some chapbook developers have used the
work for philanthropic purposes while others have funded group projects and the
distribution of personal writings.
A fundraising
effort for families involved in the Sego Mining Disaster in West Virginia saw a
poetry chapbook used to provide needed finances for those dealing with loss.
With the advent of
easy-to-use publishing programs and printers who can mass-produce a chapbook at
reasonable prices, there are more people than ever looking to impact others
through the distribution of chapbooks.
Chapbook Future
Some chapbooks may
be downloadable through PDF technology while other writers of chapbooks may
move solidly toward eBook technology in the future in an effort to distribute
their chapbooks thus avoiding paper distribution entirely.
It is safe to presume that the time-honoured tradition of chapbooks will see these little publications delight, encourage and challenge readers for centuries to come.
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