Language Visible: Unraveling the Mystery of the Alphabet from A to Z

A lively cultural history of the alphabet, told one letter at a time. After tracing the alphabet's origins in the earliest known alphabetic inscriptions of around 1800 B.C., David Sacks gives each of the 26 letters its own chapter: its ancient forms, how its shape and sound developed through Semitic, Greek, Roman and medieval writing, and the associations it carries today. Along the way he explains why B came to mean second best, why X has such a sinister aura, and why the word for "mother" begins with M in so many languages. Written with dry wit and illustrated throughout, it's an engaging read for language lovers, typography fans and the generally curious. About 400 pages, with bibliography and index.

Condition: Hardcover. Used, in like-new condition.