About the Book:”This book will be a monumental contribution to the topic and a staple of scholarship for decades.” –Michael B. Katz”A remarkable volume of critical synthesis and passionate revisionism.” –Journal of Economic History”. . . ambitious and stimulating . . . required reading not only for social historians but also for policy-makers and activists.” –Histoire Sociale”Clearly an important book . . . marks a significant point in the history of literacy studies.” –History of Education Quarterly”A stimulating challenge to traditional assumptions and scholarly commonplaces.” –Journal of Communication