Who was printer of first book in English?

Answer 1

It was: "The Canterbury Tales", by Geoffrey Chaucer (English author and poet), first print edition, 1478, by William Caxton.

However: The first book which Caxton ever produced was "The Recuyell of the Histories of Troy", translated by himself from the French original of Raoul Lefèvre. He had begun the translation in 1469, taken it further at the behest of Margaret of York, the Duchess of Burgundy, continued the work in Ghent, and completed it in Cologne on 9 September 1471. This was the first book ever to be printed in English. This book however was produced in the Netherlands and Belgium, known collectively as the Low Countries.

So, although Lefèvre's work was the first "book in England to be printed in English", Chaucer's work was the first 'English work in England to be printed in English'

Answer 2

William Caxton (1422-1492)

Caxton affiliated himself with the household of Margaret, the duchess of Burgundy, sister of the English king Edward IV. She became one of his most important patrons and encouraged him with his translation of 'The Recuyell of the Histories of Troye' from French to English. In the early 1470s Caxton spent time in Cologne learning the art of printing. He returned to Bruges in 1472 where he and Colard Mansion, a Flemish calligrapher, set up a press. Caxton's own translation of 'The Recuyell of the Histories of Troye' was the first book printed in the English language.

Answer 3

According to the British Library website, the first book printed in English was "The Recuyell of the Histories of Troy", printed by William Caxton in 1471.

Answer 4

The first book in English is Beowulf -- unfortunately the author is unknown.