This book explains the literary history of Scotland in the early modern period (1560-1625) through the investigation of manuscript production, arguing that scottish Renaissance manuscript culture was far more colourful than is generally understood. His lucid précis of a wide range of existing research in book history, and the clear-sighted perspectives he brings to bear when applying this research to the matter at hand, speaks of his real mastery of the subject. It would be hard to say which came first this theoretical subtlety, or what must have been tireless years of archival work -- but manuscript studies has profited hugely, either way...