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Mark Towsey

Professor Mark Towsey
MA (Hons), MLitt, PhD, FRHistS

Contact

M.R.M.Towsey@liverpool.ac.uk

+44 (0)151 794 2383

Publications

Selected publications

  1. The Minute Book of the Bristol Library Society, 1772-1801 (Scholarly edition - 2022)
  2. The First Minute Book of the Liverpool Athenaeum, 1797-1809 (Book - 2020)
  3. Reading History in Britain and America, c.1750-c.1840 (Book - 2019)
  4. Before the Public Library: Reading, Community and Identity in the Atlantic World, 1650-1850 (Book - 2017)
  5. Book Use and Sociability in Lost Libraries of the Eighteenth Century: Towards a Union Catalogue (Chapter - 2016)
  6. ‘Store their Minds with Much Valuable Knowledge’: Agricultural Improvement at the Selkirk Subscription Library, 1799-1814 (Journal article - 2015)
  7. ‘I can’t resist sending you the book’: Private Libraries, Elite Women, and Shared Reading Practices in Georgian Britain (Journal article - 2013)
  8. Reading the Scottish Enlightenment: Books and their Readers in Provincial Scotland, 1750-1820 (Book - 2010)
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2023

The Cerebral Arts and Their Publics

Towsey, M. (2023). The Cerebral Arts and Their Publics. In Unknown Book (pp. 63-87). Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. doi:10.5040/9781350057333.ch-3

DOI
10.5040/9781350057333.ch-3
Chapter

2022

The Minute Book of the Bristol Library Society, 1772-1801

Towsey, M., & Skjonsberg, M. (2022). The Minute Book of the Bristol Library Society, 1772-1801. Bristol: Bristol Record Society. Retrieved from http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/History/bristolrecordsociety/publications.htm

Scholarly edition

2020

History, Politics and the Separate Spheres: Women’s Reading in Eighteenth-Century Britain and America

Towsey, M. R. M. (2020). History, Politics and the Separate Spheres: Women’s Reading in Eighteenth-Century Britain and America. In J. Rose, & M. Hammond (Eds.), The Edinburgh History of ReadingSubversive Readers. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.

Chapter

The First Minute Book of the Liverpool Athenaeum, 1797-1809

Brazendale, D., & Towsey, M. (2020). The First Minute Book of the Liverpool Athenaeum, 1797-1809. Record Society of Lancashire and Cheshire.

Book

2019

Reading History in Britain and America, c.1750-c.1840

Towsey, M. R. M. (2019). Reading History in Britain and America, c.1750-c.1840. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781108591072

DOI
10.1017/9781108591072
Book

2017

Before the Public Library: Reading, Community and Identity in the Atlantic World, 1650-1850

Towsey, M. R. M., & Roberts, K. B. (Eds.) (2017). Before the Public Library: Reading, Community and Identity in the Atlantic World, 1650-1850. Leiden: Brill.

Book

2016

2015

Knowledge is Power: Libraries in Liverpool, 1758-1860

Towsey, M. R. M. (2015, November 20). Knowledge is Power: Libraries in Liverpool, 1758-1860 [Exhibition]. Victoria Gallery & Museum.

Exhibition

Women as readers and writers

Towsey, M. (2015). Women as readers and writers. In C. Ingrassia (Ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Women's Writing in Britain, 1660–1789 (pp. 21-36). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/cbo9781139003810.003

DOI
10.1017/cbo9781139003810.003
Chapter

2013

‘I can’t resist sending you the book’: Private Libraries, Elite Women, and Shared Reading Practices in Georgian Britain

Towsey, M. (2013). ‘I can’t resist sending you the book’: Private Libraries, Elite Women, and Shared Reading Practices in Georgian Britain. Library & Information History, 29(3), 210-222. doi:10.1179/1758348913z.00000000040

DOI
10.1179/1758348913z.00000000040
Journal article

"THE BOOK SEEMED TO SINK INTO OBLIVION": READING HUME'S <i>HISTORY</i> IN EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY SCOTLAND

Towsey, M. (2013). "THE BOOK SEEMED TO SINK INTO OBLIVION": READING HUME'S <i>HISTORY</i> IN EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY SCOTLAND. In DAVID HUME: HISTORICAL THINKER, HISTORICAL WRITER (pp. 81-102). Retrieved from https://www.webofscience.com/

Chapter

Book Review: The History of Reading, Volume 1: International Perspectives, c.1500-1990

Towheed, S., & Owens, W. R. (2013). Book Review: The History of Reading, Volume 1: International Perspectives, c.1500-1990. Library & Information History, 28(2), 159-160.

Journal article

Reading in the American Enlightenment

Towsey, M. R. M. (2013). Reading in the American Enlightenment. In M. G. Spencer (Ed.), Encyclopaedia of the American Enlightenment (pp. 1,576 words). London and New York: Continuum.

Chapter

2012

Imprisoned Reading: French Prisoners of War at the Selkirk Subscription Library, 1811–1814

Towsey, M. (2012). Imprisoned Reading: French Prisoners of War at the Selkirk Subscription Library, 1811–1814. In Civilians and War in Europe 1618–1815 (pp. 241-261). Liverpool University Press. doi:10.5949/upo9781846317699.016

DOI
10.5949/upo9781846317699.016
Chapter

Book Review: Libraries and the Enlightenment

Bivens-Tatum, W. (2012). Book Review: Libraries and the Enlightenment. Library and Information History, 29(2), *.

Journal article

2011

PUBLISHING THE ENLIGHTENMENT Reading the Scottish Enlightenment

Towsey, M. (2012). PUBLISHING THE ENLIGHTENMENT Reading the Scottish Enlightenment. In EDINBURGH HISTORY OF THE BOOK IN SCOTLAND, VOL 2: ENLIGHTENMENT AND EXPANSION 1707-1800 (pp. 421-434). Retrieved from https://www.webofscience.com/

Chapter

Publishing the enlightenment: The 'age of criticism' and the critical reader: George Ridpath

Towsey, M. (2011). Publishing the enlightenment: The 'age of criticism' and the critical reader: George Ridpath. In The Edinburgh History of the Book in Scotland (Vol. 2, pp. 435-437).

Chapter

Publishing the enlightenment: Women's reading

Towsey, M. (2011). Publishing the enlightenment: Women's reading. In The Edinburgh History of the Book in Scotland (Vol. 2, pp. 438-446).

Chapter

The History of Reading, Volume 2

Halsey, K., & Owens, W. R. (Eds.) (2011). The History of Reading, Volume 2. In . Palgrave Macmillan UK. doi:10.1057/9780230316799

DOI
10.1057/9780230316799
Chapter

“OBSERVE HER HEEDFULLY”: ELIZABETH ROSE ON WOMEN WRITERS

Towsey, M. (2011). “OBSERVE HER HEEDFULLY”: ELIZABETH ROSE ON WOMEN WRITERS. Women's Writing, 18(1), 15-33. doi:10.1080/09699082.2011.525006

DOI
10.1080/09699082.2011.525006
Journal article

'"The Talent hid in a Napkin": Castle Libraries in Scotland, 1770-1830'

Towsey, M. R. M. (2011). '"The Talent hid in a Napkin": Castle Libraries in Scotland, 1770-1830'. In K. Halsey, & W. R. Owens (Eds.), The History of Reading, Vol.2: Evidence from the British Isles, c.1750-1950 (pp. 15-31). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Chapter

Reading the Scottish Enlightenment

Towsey, M. R. M. (2011). Reading the Scottish Enlightenment. In W. McDougall, & S. W. Brown (Eds.), The Edinburgh History of the Book in Scotland Volume II: 1707-1800 (pp. 421-434). Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.

Chapter

Review Article: An Empire of Print

Towsey, M. R. M. (2011). Review Article: An Empire of Print. Historical Journal, 54(4), 1169-1184.

Journal article

The Critical Reader

Towsey, M. R. M. (2011). The Critical Reader. In W. McDougall, & S. W. Brown (Eds.), The Edinburgh History of the Book in Scotland Volume II: 1707-1800 (pp. 435-437). Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.

Chapter

Women Readers

Towsey, M. R. M. (2011). Women Readers. In W. McDougall, & S. W. Brown (Eds.), The Edinburgh History of the Book in Scotland Volume II: 1707-1800 (pp. 438-446). Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.

Chapter

2010

Reading the Scottish Enlightenment: Books and their Readers in Provincial Scotland, 1750-1820

Towsey, M. R. M. (2010). Reading the Scottish Enlightenment: Books and their Readers in Provincial Scotland, 1750-1820 (Vol. 10). doi:10.1163/ej.9789004184329.i-364

DOI
10.1163/ej.9789004184329.i-364
Book

'Philosophically playing the Devil': recovering readers' responses to David Hume and the Scottish Enlightenment

Towsey, M. (2010). 'Philosophically playing the Devil': recovering readers' responses to David Hume and the Scottish Enlightenment. HISTORICAL RESEARCH, 83(220), 301-320. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2281.2009.00503.x

DOI
10.1111/j.1468-2281.2009.00503.x
Journal article

'Exporting the Scottish Enlightenment: the Reading Experiences of a Colonial Governor's Wife'

Towsey, M. R. M. (2010). 'Exporting the Scottish Enlightenment: the Reading Experiences of a Colonial Governor's Wife'. In M. Landi (Ed.), L'Ecosse et ses doubles: ancien monde, nouveau monde (pp. 107-128). Paris: L'Harmattan.

Chapter

Reading the Scottish enlightenment

Towsey, M. R. M. (2010). Reading the Scottish enlightenment (Vol. 10).

Book

2009

First Steps in Associational Reading: The Foundation and Early Use of the Wigtown Subscription Library, 1790-1815

Towsey, M. R. M. (2009). First Steps in Associational Reading: The Foundation and Early Use of the Wigtown Subscription Library, 1790-1815. Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America, 103(4), 455-495.

Journal article

2008

'All the Partners may be Enlightened and Improved by Reading Them: The Distribution of Enlightenment Books in Scottish Subscription Library Catalogues, 1750-c.1820'

Towsey, M. R. M. (2008). 'All the Partners may be Enlightened and Improved by Reading Them: The Distribution of Enlightenment Books in Scottish Subscription Library Catalogues, 1750-c.1820'. Journal of Scottish Historical Studies, 28, 20-43.

Journal article

'Patron of Infidelity: Scottish Readers Respond to David Hume, c.1750-c.1820'

Towsey, M. R. M. (2008). 'Patron of Infidelity: Scottish Readers Respond to David Hume, c.1750-c.1820'. Book History, 11, 89-123.

Journal article

2007

'An Infant Son to Truth Engage: Virtue, Responsibility and Self-Improvement in the Reading of Elizabeth Rose of Kilravock, 1747-1815'

Towsey, M. R. M. (2007). 'An Infant Son to Truth Engage: Virtue, Responsibility and Self-Improvement in the Reading of Elizabeth Rose of Kilravock, 1747-1815'. Journal of the Edinburgh Bibliographical Society, 2, 69-92.

Journal article

'Reading the Scottish Enlightenment: Libraries, Readers and Intellectual Culture in Provincial Scotland c.1750-c.1820'

Towsey, M. R. M. (2007). 'Reading the Scottish Enlightenment: Libraries, Readers and Intellectual Culture in Provincial Scotland c.1750-c.1820'. (PhD Thesis, University of St Andrews).

Thesis / Dissertation