Nathaniel Crouch
Nathaniel Crouch | |
|---|---|
| Born | circa 1632 |
| Occupation(s) | Printer, bookseller, author |
| Known for | Authoring historical texts under pseudonyms; democratizing historiography |
Nathaniel Crouch (circa 1632) was an English printer and bookseller known for authoring historical texts under the aliases Robert or Richard Burton (occasionally R.B.). His reputation as a historian is often viewed critically, as he frequently adapted and repurposed existing works before releasing them under his own name. Despite criticism from later literary figures like Samuel Butler and Alexander Pope, contemporary evaluations acknowledge his role in democratizing historiography by transforming a genre traditionally reserved for elites into one accessible to a wider readership.
Crouch was one of the few writers to record the 1655 Whitehall Conference concerning the potential return of Jews to England, with his narrative included in the 1719 edition of Two Journeys to Jerusalem. In contrast to Henry Jessey’s rendition, Crouch’s report identifies specific attendees and incorporates anti-Semitic perspectives.
On September 30, 1681, he introduced Historical Rarities in London and Westminster, a publication considered an early form of what would later resemble Reader's Digest. Despite having minimal formal schooling, Crouch recognized an underserved audience situated between costly academic publications and everyday readers. By issuing concise, affordable books under pseudonyms—such as Surprising Miracles of Nature and Art—he attained significant commercial success and amassed substantial wealth through this pioneering approach to publishing.