GRUB STREET: The Origins of The British Press

The 1712 Stamp Act introduced a tax on paper used for newspapers and journals. Herman takes readers back to the unsuccessful attempts of the government to strangle publishing at birth and looks at how an army of journalists found their feet and honed their craft like Jonathan Swift and Dr Johnson. There are wayward printers and booksellers who played a big part in the development of the press, and the variety of content in early periodicals, writing targeted at women, astonishing advertising, and stories of sedition and insider trading. Photos.