The province of the book: scholars, scribes, and scribblers in colonial Tamilnadu

Includes bibliographical references and index.

The first Indian language book ever to be printed was in Tamil, in 1577. After many fits and starts and some spectacular achievements, print and the culture of book publishing became well-recognized facets of Tamil society during the late colonial period. The Province of the Book explores the wonderful world of scholarly and subaltern publishing especially popular fiction and street literature in its heyday. The basis of Tamil book publishing was, to begin with, the patronage of writers by the local nobility and affluent Hindu monastic orders. Such patronage was eroded by the socio-economic transformations which came with colonialism. During the period of transition which resulted, attempts were made to create a market for Tamil books, with local writers not knowing where to turn for a living. It was only with the rise of the novel and a reading middle class including young women and housewives which finally broke the stranglehold of patronage, allowing Tamil publishing to grow into the market venture that it is today.