02 / Book stories
Stories behind the classics.
A court case, a numbered series, books crossing borders. A few episodes from the lives of classics.
From the archives
Books have histories, too.
A time limit on ownership
In 1710, the Statute of Anne put a time limit on copyright. A published work could be protected, but not forever. Source
Could a book belong to someone forever?
That question reached the House of Lords in 1774. In Donaldson v. Beckett, the Lords rejected perpetual common-law copyright in published books. Source
Classics at a different price
In Leipzig, Reclam launched the Universal-Bibliothek in 1867. Complete works, numbered volumes and modest prices brought classics to a wider readership. Source
When a book crosses a border
A book could travel beyond the country where it was written. The Berne Convention of 1886 established an international framework to protect literary and artistic works. Source