ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book aims to fill a serious gap in the history of educational and social reform by 'popularising' the endeavours of Charles Knight, himself a great populariser. It explains how 'in the outset of life formed the "desire to make knowledge a common possession instead of an exclusive privilege"'. The book examines Knight's unique relationship with the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. It explores his work for the Society and as an independent publisher in his prime, using evidence from the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge and Brougham Papers at University College London to indicate the way in which Knight provided indispensable support for the enterprise. The book presents a picture of the totality of Knight's contributions to the growth of a mass market for cheap, quality literature, and to convey a sense of the breadth of his vision.
