Alpha Beta : How 26 Letters Shaped the Western World

English

ISBN: 047141574X

EAN: 9780471415749

Category: Language Arts & Disciplines / Alphabet

Publisher: Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, John

Release Date: 07/22/2011

Synopsis: Praise for Alpha Beta This book comes at the perfect moment?as we rediscover the importance in early reading of ?cracking the alphabetic code.? The story of how that code came into being is a fascinating one, and Man is the ideal writer to tell it. ?Times Educational SupplementA richly absorbing exploration, from B.C. to PCs, of the evolution of the most fundamental ?characters? of our cultural history, the alphabet we so much take for granted. John Man writes with a compellingly restless curiosity and immediacy. The ever surprising, exotically detailed narrative in his informative book makes it as undryly enjoyable as a successful archaelogical dig of one of Alan Moorehead?s colorful histories of African exploration. ?David Grambs, author of The Describer?s Dictionary and The Endangered English DictionaryText that is crisp, taut, and as clear as a bell.... A fascinating story with many a beguiling subplot along the way. ?New ScientistLetter perfect?the best histories and mysteries of our ABC?s! ?Jeff McQuain, author of Never Enough Words and Power Language

Excerpt: Unknown Property Excerpt

Alpha Beta : How 26 Letters Shaped the Western World

Illustrated: Yes

Format: Paperback

Height: 1.11 inches

Width: 5.35 inches

Length: 8.23 inches

Weight: 14.74 oz

Pages: 320