Caxton Prints First English Book

1474

In Bruges, William Caxton produced his Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye, the first book printed in English. The text was his own translation from the French. Caxton had spent decades as a Merchant Adventurer abroad and returned technology and a language together. English print culture had a founder. The choice of a Trojan romance reflected the medieval belief that Britain was founded by Trojan refugees, giving English readers classical pedigree.