Caxton's Press and the Birth of English Literature

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the monumental impact of William Caxton, England's first printer, and how his press transformed English language, literature, and culture at the dawn of the Tudor era. They trace Caxton's journey from a merchant in Bruges to setting up his press at Westminster Abbey, examine the 'incunabula' — early printed books that shaped a nation — and discuss the significance of landmark titles like 'Le Morte d'Arthur' and 'The Canterbury Tales'. Listeners will learn about the challenges of standardizing English spelling and grammar in a pre-dictionary age, the economics of early publishing, and how Caxton's choices of what to print influenced everything from chivalric ideals to religious devotion. The episode also touches on the transition from script to print, the role of patronage under Edward IV and Margaret of York, and the legacy of Caxton's press in the centuries that followed. A thoughtful, detailed look at a quiet revolution that changed how English people read, wrote, and thought. #WilliamCaxton #PrintingPress #Incunabula #EnglishLiterature #LeMortedArthur #CanterburyTales #ThomasMalory #GeoffreyChaucer #MargaretOfYork #EdwardIV #WestminsterAbbey #Bruges #TudorEngland #BookHistory #Renaissance #EnglishLanguage #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo