What is reading mania

 (i) Johann Gutenberg’s printing press : The revolution in printing was brought by Johann Gutenberg’s printing press. With the invention of printing press, the cost of producing a book came down. So now even the common people could afford the books.
(ii) Increase in literacy rate : The seventeenth and the eighteenth centuries saw the rapid rise of literacy rate in most parts of Europe. Churches of different denominations set up schools in villages. By the end of the eighteenth century, in some parts of Europe, the literacy rate was as high as 60 to 80 per cent.
(iii) New forms of literature : New forms of popular literature were printed, which targeted new audiences. There were almanacs or ritual calendars, along with ballads and folk tales.
(iv) Periodicals : The next phase was the development of periodicals. The periodicals combined information about current affairs with entertainment. Newspapers and journals carried information about wars and trade, as well as news of developments in other places.