ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the emergence and development of both literary journalism studies and book history as distinct fields of study in the US context and suggests particular ideas and approaches from book history that can enrich the study of literary journalism. In addition, it reviews the several studies that have merged the fields of literary journalism and book history. Finally, it highlights two social theories of democracy: public sphere theory and civil sphere theory. When joined with approaches from book history, these theories can help explain the actual influence and work of literary journalism in American public life, both in the past and in our present moment. After all, to study literary journalism is to study journalism, a particular form of public communication central to civic life in the United States, protected by law and widely understood to be a tool of democracy. What literary journalism means to the public is what matters most for literary journalism studies.
