The Book Market, the Good Reader, and the Rise of Fan Fiction

Chapter 1 documents the rise of fan fiction in the decades after 1760, as it transformed from something radically unexpected to an accepted, if hotly debated, literary practice. This chapter argues that widespread changes in reading and writing habits, as well as the emergence of new aesthetic theories, provided a social and educational framework that primed readers to write fan fiction. The attendant writing revolution modified the book trade in ways that further spurred the creation of fan fiction. As the market became saturated with novels, publishers and booksellers looked for promising new products. Because works of fan fiction had established audiences, these texts became a safe bet for profit-hungry publishers and authors. The result was the proliferation of fan fiction.