Robert Estienne, Royal Printer An Historical Study of the elder Stephanus

This book was originally published in 1954. Robert Estienne was born in Paris in the early years of the sixteenth century, the son of a successful printer-bookseller. He became a printer himself, and one distinguished not only for the quality of his printing, but also for his scholarship. He was the most outstanding figure of the Parisian booktrade at the moment when that trade was one of the most important agencies of the various intellectual movements which we summarise as 'The Renaissance'. Estienne was not only a classical but also a biblical scholar and editor (he is remembered as much for his editions of the Bible as for the beauty of his Cicero or for his use of the Garamond Greek types). Mrs Armstrong gives a full-length historical study of an important and admirable figure.

List of illustrations; Preface; Translations, transcriptions, names and dates; Abbreviation; Introduction; Part I. The Merchant-Craftsman: 1. Origins of the Estienne Press; 2. Robert Estienne's beginnings; 3. Business policy and publicity; 4. Output and sales; 5. Privilege and piracy; 6. Production; 7. Staff and family; Part II. The Scholar-Publisher: 8. A scholar in business; 9. The Bible in Latin; 10. From Terence to the Thesaurus linguae latinae; 11. Lexicography: Latin and French; 12. General publishing 1526–1539; 13. General publishing 1539–1550; 14. Relations with Budé and other authors; Part III. The King's Printer: 15. Appointment as Printer in Hebrew and Latin; 16. Appointment as Printer in Greek; 17. Greek publishing 1544–1551; 18. The King's Printer and the King's publicists; 19. Estienne at court; 20. The King's Printer: public servant; Part IV. The King's Printer and the Censors: 21. Censorship in France: prohibition and expurgation; 22. Francis I and the Louvain condemnation of Estienne; 23. From Francis I to Henry II: Estienne before the Privy Council; 24. From Francis I to Henry II: the Chambre Ardente: the final ban; 25. 'Estienne's party'; 26. Estienne and the Faculty of Theology; Part V. Geneva: 27. The move from Paris; 28. Robert and Charles: the transition; 29. 'At the Olive-tree of Robert Estienne': 1551–1559; 30. Estienne and the Council of Geneva 1: privileges and a prosecution; 31. Estienne and the Coucil of Geneva 2: the censorship; 32. Estienne's will and death; 33. Estienne's faith; A letter from Estienne to Cordier; Appendices; Select bibliography; Index.

This book was originally published in 1954. Mrs Armstrong gives a full-length historical study of an important and admirable figure of Robert Estienne. Through his scholarly work and his ideals of artistry and craftsmanship of printing, he also brought understanding to the dissemination of a culture.