Who is the reader?

A data-driven study of readers of class literature

Abstract

In recent years, literature about social class has topped the bestseller lists. But who reads class literature, and what can be said about demographic factors that shape the reception of these books? This article analyzes data from the libraries’ digital book platform eReolen to approach ​​who the reader of class literature is. Through datetime data and geographical data of municipal residence, I argue that class literature is mainly consumed in prosperous regions of Denmark and thus reproduces the social inequality involved in the reception of most forms of literature.