History: Cardiff Corvey: Reading the Romantic Text (1997–2005)
The acquisition in 1997 by Cardiff University of the English language version of the Corvey Microfiche Edition (CME) presented a significant opportunity for research into English literature of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The CME consists of 3,290 titles held on over 10,000 microfiche, which in real terms represents about 2,150,000 printed pages by 1,280 different writers. In terms of individual titles, it is the largest of the three Editions Corvey (English, French, German). Under the supervision of Professor Peter Garside and based in the Centre for Editorial and Intertextual Research (CEIR), the initial aim of Cardiff Corvey was to establish ongoing studies based on the first-hand consultation of original literature dating from the period 1770–1830.

     The English language titles of the Edition Corvey consist of just under 3,300 works, of which the collection of novels comprises nearly two-thirds; also contained are 194 dramas, and more than 400 poetic works. Of especial interest is the high frequency of women poets and novelists, including over nineteen first editions by Mary Meeke, and a dozen or more by Barbara Hofland, Louisa Stanhope, and Ann of Swansea. Other prose forms included are fairy tales, legends, fables, and children’s stories, as well as biographies, essays and contemporary literary criticism, travel writing, periodical work, and over one hundred anthologies.

     The development of a number of projects based in the Romantic period (The English Novel, 1770–1829; The English Novel, 1830–1836; A Database of British Fiction, 1800–1830) consolidated the research taking place in the CEIR, with Cardiff Corvey providing a platform to publicise these and various related projects. Increasinly, however, Cardiff Corvey grew in scope and changed in nature, and alongside its research materials the journal began publishing peer-reviewed articles drawn from the scholarly community (as of Issue 5, November 2005). Since this time, Cardiff Corvey embraced a dual role: as a point of focus for Romantic-studies research taking place in CEIR and as an online journal.

     Early in 2005, the decision was made to separate these two functions, owing to the increasing international profile of the journal elemnent of Cardiff Corvey, which by now had outgrown its institution-specific trappings. The result was that all CEIR-specific material would be presented on its own website, while the journal would be relaunched under the new title of Romantic Textualities: Literature and Print Culture, 1780–1840—a title that accurately reflects its specific remit with the field of Romantic studies.