Victorian Literary Businesses

This book explores the business practices of the British publishing industry from 1843-1900, discussing the role of creative businesses in society and the close relationship between culture and business in a historical context. Marrisa Joseph develops a strong cultural, social and historical discussion around the developments in copyright law, gender and literary culture from a management perspective; analysing how individuals formed professional associations and contract law to instigate new processes. Drawing on institutional theory and analysing primary and archival sources, this book traces how the practices of literary businesses developed, reproduced and later legitimised. By offering a close analysis of some of publishing’s most influential businesses, it provides an insight into the decision-making processes that shaped an industry and brings to the fore the ‘institutional story’ surrounding literary business and their practices, many of which can still be seen today.

“As a book historian, I welcome fresh insight into the business practices of Victorian authors and publishers, because so much remains that we do not know about the Victorian publishing world. … I would rate Victorian Literary Businesses a good introduction to Victorian publishing practice that covers the main players in the literary marketplace.” (Troy J. Bassett, Victorian Studies, Vol. 64 (3), 2022)

Marrisa Joseph is a Lecturer in Entrepreneurship at the Henley Business School, University of Reading, UK and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She has published aspects of her research in peer reviewed journals including Business History and the Academy of Management Proceedings, and has won numerous grants including from the Barnett Foundation. Marrisa’s research has received the Journal of Management History Award for Best International Paper at the Academy of Management Annual Meeting. In addition, she was shortlisted for the K. Austin Kerr prize for the best first paper delivered at the Business History Conference by a new scholar. Prior to completing her PhD in Business & Management from Queen Mary, University of London, UK, Marrisa worked in the publishing industry in marketing and also rights management.