The Alphabetic Labyrinth
The Letters in History and Imagination
Johanna Drucker
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| ‘A fascinating compendium of alphabet lore’ | | — The Independent‘ |
| A veritable treasure trove’ | | — The New Humanity |
| ‘A feast of riches’ | | — The Edge, Journal of the Calligraphy and Lettering Arts Society |
The result of a lifetime’s research, The Alphabetic Labyrinth examines the many imaginative ways in which the letters of the alphabet have been assigned value in political, spiritual, or religious belief systems over two millennia — as well as presenting the history of lettering, printing and calligraphy.
Johanna Drucker traces writing from its birth to modern times, documenting the ideas of Plato and the early Christians amongst others, and the significance of letters to alchemy and the Kabbalah, nationalism and revolutionary political theory.
The first book to explore fully this colourful and poetic realm, The Alphabetic Labyrinth is richly complemented by images which have rarely been reproduced. Drawing on a wide variety of little-known sources, the author adds a new and exciting chapter to the history of ideas which will prove fascinating to cultural historians, art historians and anyone interested in the history of typography.
Also of interest:
A2Z: and More Signs |
|  |  | | | | ISBN 0500280681 | | ISBN-13 978-0500280683 | | | | 26.0 x 19.0 cm | | Paperback | | 320pp | | 339 illustrations, in 2 colours throughout | | First published 1999 | | | | £19.95 | | | |  | | | | 
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