Ancestral subject catalogue of chapbook themes.

This thesis seeks to offer a substantial bibliographical resource for the study of chapbook literature in the early-modern period. It lists all titles known to have been published in the 'prestructure' (or format) of the chapbook before 1700. Furthermore it details the development of titles and themes from their earliest cultural origins (whether in the form of folk-plays, or printed literature). The inclusion of items associated by theme and subject allows the texts themselves to be shown in the context of other printed productions of the time that relate to them. There is no hard and fast rule here. Some texts are associated by title similarity, some by subject similarity, and some by the use of the same theme. As well as including associated texts for each title, they are often given for groups of titles (ie. gender, medical, cookery, anti-Welsh). These are not comprehensive lists. In each case the basis for the selection will be given. The section numbers will correspond with those of the relevant sections of a forthcoming comprehensive study of the origin and development of chapbook literature to 1700. The basic layout runs from Tales (early romances - popular legends - rogues and jests - apprentice literature) through didactic texts (incl. gender), and fables to conduct texts that use narrative, and then those which don't (complement books). Next come other 'how-to' guides. Then garlands, 'useful' information, riddles and trivia. The work continues with miscellanies, and concludes with texts relating to the production and distribution of cheap print. The general movements within sections or within the whole are from fiction to non-fiction, and from texts with earlier origins to those with later, complementing the prose study. The main titles in each section are ordered alphabetically by keywords and preceded by an index. Each entry is chronologically ordered