With the ongoing publication of The History of the Irish Book (Oxford University Press) and The History of the Book in Scotland (Edinburgh University Press), it is now a particularly opportune moment to reflect on the similarities and differences between these two significant communications cultures. Studies of print culture in Britain have tended to focus on book production and consumption in England. Recent research, however, has pointed to the essential vitality and distinctiveness of the Irish and Scottish markets which not only consumed works printed in London but also on their own presses. Drawing on fresh and innovative research, this conference is intended to contrast the development of print culture in Scotland and Ireland following political union with England in 1707 and 1800.

Core questions might include:

What impact did Union have on the book trades of Scotland and Ireland? Did print culture in the period after Union contribute more to a homogenisation of British culture or to the nurturing of distinctive regional identities? What can the creative writing of Scotland and Ireland tell us about the impact of Union? How far does the published output of the period reflect the debates about the advantages and disadvantages of a union of the kingdoms? Were networks for news gathering and publishing transformed in this period? What effects did Union have on Irish language / Scots Gaelic language publishing? What relationship can be identified between Union and Empire?

By probing the commonalities and differences between the experiences of these print domains, this conference will seek to stimulate a broader debate on the strengths and weaknesses of comparative history and its value to the study of communication. To this end, the organisers wish to strongly encourage collaborative research papers (especially papers of an interdisciplinary nature or written jointly by specialists of the Scottish and Irish print domains).

Deadline: The deadline for the submission of abstracts for consideration by the conference organisers is Tuesday 15 May 2008. Abstracts will be considered by an interdisciplinary panel of advisors and should be sent to Dr Sandy Wilkinson, Director, Centre for the History of the Media, School of History and Archives, University College Dublin, Belfied, Ireland. sandy.wilkinson@ucd.ie