Shady Characters: Ampersands, Interrobangs and Other Typographical Curiosities

HOUSTON, Keith

ISBN 10: 184614647X / ISBN 13: 9781846146473

Published by Particular Books, 2013

About this Item

Robust packaging. Tracking can be added to overseas orders on request. Used books are exempt from USA tariffs. Size: xii,340pp, illus.

Seller Inventory # XX4585

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Shady Characters: Ampersands, Interrobangs and Other Typographical Curiosities
• Publisher: Particular Books
• Publication Date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 184614647X
• ISBN 13: 9781846146473
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st edition.
• Condition: Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Fine
• Signed: No ownership marks
• Seller catalogs:
  • Literature & Fiction: General

About this title

Synopsis

Every character we write or type is a link to the past, and in today's writing- be it printed, electronic or handwritten - this history stares right back at us. Take the pilcrow: present at the birth of punctuation, its story encompasses the ancient Greeks, Charlemagne, medieval writing, England's greatest twentieth-century typographer and several brushes with extinction before its most recent revival in word-processing software. This book brings together many more intriguing examples of symbols old - and new ;-), well-known @ and obscure recounts the unexpected, colourful and sometimes outlandish stories behind them. The magnificent cast of Shady Characters reflects the changes in written commence action through the ages, charting how punctuation has adapted to each new technological innovation and how the ways we express ourselves are constantly evolving. Together they form a rich, entertaining and surprising history of the written word and our continuing attempts to shape it.

About the Author

Keith Houston is the author of Shady Characters and the founder of shadycharacters.co.uk. He lives in London.