Letter Perfect

The Marvelous History of Our Alphabet From A to Z

Nonfiction, Reference & Language, Language Arts, Alphabet, Reference, Almanacs & Trivia, Word Lists, Linguistics
Cover of the book Letter Perfect by David Sacks, Crown/Archetype
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Author: David Sacks ISBN: 9780307419088
Publisher: Crown/Archetype Publication: December 18, 2007
Imprint: Broadway Books Language: English
Author: David Sacks
ISBN: 9780307419088
Publisher: Crown/Archetype
Publication: December 18, 2007
Imprint: Broadway Books
Language: English

A fun, lively, and learned excursion into the alphabet—and cultural history.

Letters are tangible language. Joining together in endless combinations to actually show speech, letters convey our messages and tell our stories. While we encounter these tiny shapes hundreds of times a day, we take for granted the long, fascinating history behind one of the most fundamental of human inventions: the alphabet.

The heart of the book is the 26 fact-filled “biographies” of letters A through Z, each one identifying the letter’s particular significance for modern readers, tracing its development from ancient forms, and discussing its noteworthy role in literature and other media. We learn, for example, why the letter X has a sinister and sexual aura, how B came to signify second best, why the word “mother” in many languages starts with M, and what is the story of O.

Packed with information and lavishly illustrated, Letter Perfect is accessible, entertaining, and essential to the appreciation of our own language.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

A fun, lively, and learned excursion into the alphabet—and cultural history.

Letters are tangible language. Joining together in endless combinations to actually show speech, letters convey our messages and tell our stories. While we encounter these tiny shapes hundreds of times a day, we take for granted the long, fascinating history behind one of the most fundamental of human inventions: the alphabet.

The heart of the book is the 26 fact-filled “biographies” of letters A through Z, each one identifying the letter’s particular significance for modern readers, tracing its development from ancient forms, and discussing its noteworthy role in literature and other media. We learn, for example, why the letter X has a sinister and sexual aura, how B came to signify second best, why the word “mother” in many languages starts with M, and what is the story of O.

Packed with information and lavishly illustrated, Letter Perfect is accessible, entertaining, and essential to the appreciation of our own language.

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