Letter by Letter - Softcover

Laurent Pflughaupt

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1568987374 ISBN 13: 9781568987378

Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press, 2008

Synopsis

Letters are the building blocks of our language, and quite possibly of our consciousness. Written into young minds through constant repetition, letters soon function like water in a fishbowl—essential for life, but too familiar to qualify as objects of serious inquiry. But considered separately from words and sentences, letters express their own mysterious beauty. In order to uncover their secrets, it is necessary to forego the conventional historical approach in favor of an impassioned appreciation of their formal and sensual characteristics.

In Letter by Letter graphic designer and calligrapher Laurent Pflughaupt analyzes each letter of the Roman alphabet in detail, tracing its origin, evolution, and form, as well as discussing its important abbreviations, symbols, and associated meanings. Arranged in alphabetical order, twenty-six entries offer a wealth of facts about each letter, establishing correspondences between letters and elements borrowed from a variety of different fields of study, ranging from traditional paleography, phonetics, and graphic arts to the more arcane areas of musicology, esotericism, and even Eastern philosophy. In addition to a glossary, timelines and images allow us to visualize the letters during the different historical eras, giving the reader an appreciation of their successive metamorphoses. Written as an homage, this lovingly illustrated book takes a broad approach to the modern alphabet, allowing the reader to see letters anew, in a fresh and lively manner guaranteed to inform and enchant anyone interested in typography and language.

About this title

About the Author:

Laurent Pflughaupt is a designer, calligrapher, and artist. He received his degree from l'École municipale supérieure des arts et techniques in Paris.

Review:

Although readers won't find Arial (the favorite default sans-serif on the computer) or Zapf Dingbats (the most commonly used typographic ornaments, at least on the Macintosh), they will be told about the calligraphic and engraved origins of the Western alphabet, particularly the Roman letter, with such clarity (and a touch of raciness) that even the novice will be appreciative. -- New York Times Book Review, June 1, 2008

Today, the computer has turned many unschooled nondesigners ino ersatz typographers. Since type is now so integrated into our everyday lives, it is imperative we be more in the know--indeed, literate--about how letter forms developed and typefaces came to be. Letter by Letter by Laurent Pflughaupt, a designer and calligrapher who studied at l'Ecole Municipale Superieure des Arts et Techniques in Paris, is a Baedaeker of letters from "A" to "Z." Although readers won't find Arial (the favorite default sans-serif on the computer) or Zapf Dingbats (the most commonly used typographic ornaments, at least on the Macintosh), they will be told about the calligraphic and engraved origins of the Western alphabet, particularly the Roman letter, with such clarity (and a touch of raciness) that even the notice will be appreciative. -- New York Times, 6/1/2008

Few books have really explored the meaning, origins and aesthetic of individual letters in the Roman alphabet. Pflughaupt, a Parisian designer, calligrapher and artist, examines the very form of these building blocks that make our language possible, providing a rich and unusual background that combines paleography, phonetics, graphic arts and even musicology. While this book has been written for artists and linguists, the information contained within will enhance the knowledge of anyone who reads or writes using this particular alphabet. --Book News Inc., August 2008

About this edition

• Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1568987374
• ISBN 13: 9781568987378
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 160