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Letter Perfect : The Marvelous History of Our Alphabet from a to Z by David Sacks (2004, Trade Paperback)

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Letter Perfect : The Marvelous History of Our Alphabet From A to Z, Paperback by Sacks, David, ISBN 0767911733, ISBN-13 9780767911733, Brand New, Free shipping in the US An entertaining and informative study of the mysteries of the alphabet traces the history of alphabetic symbols and inscriptions from ancient times to the present day and offers close-up portraits of the twenty-six letters of the English alphabet, detailing each letter's significance, its development, and its role in literature and other media. Reprint.

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Product Information

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.

Product Identifiers

Publisher
Crown Publishing Group, T.H.E.
ISBN-10
0767911733
ISBN-13
9780767911733
eBay Product ID (ePID)
6028283

Product Key Features

Author
David Sacks
Publication Name
Letter Perfect : the Marvelous History of Our Alphabet from a to Z
Format
Trade Paperback
Language
English
Publication Year
2004
Type
Textbook
Number of Pages
416 Pages

Dimensions

Item Length
8.2in
Item Height
0.9in
Item Width
5.5in
Item Weight
12 Oz

Additional Product Features

Reviews
"At a time when it has become more important than ever to read clearly and intelligently in order to dismantle the daily traps of propaganda, this delightful book lays bare for us, with wit and wisdom, the very building-blocks of our culture: the mysterious letters of the alphabet that rule our language and thought." -Alberto Manguel, author of A History of Reading "Reading David Sacks's wonderful Letter Perfect is like sitting rapt before the coolest teacher in school. Sacks's excursion through the alphabet is witty and smart. I was reluctant to finally leave the classroom." -Mark Dunn, author of Ella Minnow Pea "[Letter Perfect] is distinguished by its remarkably long and broad view of the topic and its omnivorous sense of fun. â€¦ [A] clear and appealing discussion. â€¦ [A] dazzlingly diverse array of facts. â€¦ From discussions of the letter A's role in meat grading, bond rating, student ranking, and punishment for adultery to Z's exotic associations with Zorro, Sacks makes the history of the alphabet a joy to read. Recommended for most libraries." -Library Journal (US) "An always clever -- but rarely too clever -- educational and entertaining history of the alphabet. A refreshing combination of erudition and breeziness." -Kirkus Reviews "Sacks unfolds the romance and magic of the English alphabet. Although Sacks writes for non-specialists, he distills an impressive range of scholarship into his examination of the alphabet's complex cultural history. This is a delightfully entertaining and engrossing tale of how the score of roman letters that arrived in England in the seventh century eventually gave us everything from the poetry of William Shakespeare to the official grades used by meat inspectors to evaluate chicken." -Booklist "As fun to read as it is enlightening...Sacks's obsession with language is contagious, and I can imagine few readers whose lives would not be enriched by what he calls his 'voyage of discovery.'" -Julie Walton Shaver, The New York Times Book Review "Sacks is at his best when he opens a world, and the worlds within worlds that shape-shift as written language moves...Letter Perfect is a valuable addition (edition?) for anyone who wants to know how Anglophones got from there to here." -The Globe and Mail "[Letter Perfect] is distinguished by its remarkably long and broad view of the topic and its omnivorous sense of fun. â€¦ [A] clear and appealing discussion. â€¦ [A] dazzlingly diverse array of facts. â€¦ From discussions of the letter A's role in meat grading, bond rating, student ranking, and punishment for adultery to Z's exotic associations with Zorro, Sacks makes the history of the alphabet a joy to read. Recommended for most libraries." -Library Journal (US) 'Beautifully illustratedâ€¦[A] gem of popular linguistic historyâ€¦[Letter Perfect] avoids taking itself too seriously." -Publishers Weekly "[A] cultural history of A to Z. Letter Perfect unravels the mystery of the alphabet's ancient origins, and explores its effects on the modern world." -Citizen's Weekly "Sacks writes in a jokey, conversational styleâ€¦anthropomorphiz[ing] the letters to make their 'biographies' even more exciting." -Winnipeg Free Press "
Topic
Alphabets & Writing Systems, Linguistics / Historical & Comparative, Word Lists
Dewey Decimal
411
Intended Audience
Trade
Dewey Edition
22
Genre
Référence, Language Arts & Disciplines

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Most relevant reviews

5 out of 5 stars
by G_lN5L3ZQCW@Del...Jun 06, 2007
Letter Perfect by David Sacks
This book has a history of the alphabet and great information on each individual letter. As a graphologist I am always interest in learning about letters and how they are used. However, Just after ordering this book I learned it was the second printing and the publisher changed the title so I already had it under the old title.

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