This work investigates the development and economic structure of the Dublin book trade between 1550 and 1800 to determine its independence from and relationship to the English market. M. Pollard, a noted bibliographer, utilizes a comprehensive array of primary source materials to reconstruct the commercial landscape of Irish bookselling. By analyzing daybooks, advertisements, and surviving imprints, the author challenges the traditional view of the Irish trade as a mere peripheral extension of the London market. The study provides a rigorous economic framework for understanding how local supply, demand, and international trade shaped the Irish literary landscape during this period.

Experts recognize this text as a foundational study that successfully shifts the focus of bibliographical history toward the Irish experience. Scholars frequently note the meticulous use of archival data to provide a clear picture of early modern trade practices.