The Iron Whim: A Fragmented History of Typewriting

by Darren Wershler-Henry

The Iron Whim is an intelligent, irreverent, and humorous history of writing culture and technology. It covers the early history and evolution of the typewriter as well as the various attempts over the years to change the keyboard configuration, but it is primarily about the role played by this marvel in the writer's life. Darren Wershler-Henry populates his book with figures as disparate as Bram Stoker, Mark Twain, Franz Kafka, Norman Mailer, Alger Hiss, William Burroughs, J. G. Ballard, Jack Kerouac, Hunter S. Thompson, Northrop Frye, David Cronenberg, and David Letterman; the soundtrack ranges from the industrial clatter of a newsroom full of Underwoods to the more muted tapping and hum of the Selectric.

Wershler-Henry casts a bemused eye on the odd history of early writing machines, important and unusual typewritten texts, the creation of On the Road, and the exploits of a typewriting cockroach named Archy, numerous monkeys, poets, and even a couple of vampires. He gathers into his narrative typewriter-related rumors and anecdotes (Henry James became so accustomed to dictating his novels to a typist that he required the sound of a randomly operated typewriter even to begin to compose). And by broadening his focus to look at typewriting as a social system as well as the typewriter as a technological form, he examines the fascinating way that the tool has actually shaped the creative process. With engaging subject matter that ranges over two hundred years of literature and culture in English, The Iron Whim builds on recent interest in books about familiar objects and taps into our nostalgia for a method of communication and composition that has all but vanished.

Genres: History

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sometimes I pick up a book on a random topic, thinking "huh, let's see how someone can make an interesting read out of this seemingly mundane topic." Turns out that with the history of typewriting, that isn't possible. At least, it's not possible for this author. I only read about 70 pages, but even those were painful. The cultural analysis felt forced, the history was muddled, and the prose was a slog. I wish it could have been better, but, alas.

[Crystal · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh.

[Allison · Rating 1 out of 5]

The fragmented in the title is exactly right. Read the description closely.

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I will admit that I only read the first two chapters of this book, and if anyone was able to make it all the way through and thought it to be a worthy tome, I would love to hear your comments.

My own opinion was that it reads like a school research paper, with large portions of paraphrasing or quotes from other books. The author also makes it clear from the get-go that this will NOT be a traditional history of the typewriter (and recommends another book if that is what you are looking for- I may have to check it out), but an archaeological dig, if you will. Because of this and the convoluted turns of phrase that seem to define Wershler-Henry’s writing (“… I’m interested in typewriting as a discourse: one of the systems of ideas and rules that structure our lives in ways that are subtle and brutal by turns.” [pg. 14]), I found that I was unable to read this book and therefore would not recommend it.

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

i bought this to remind myself to write a story about typewriting monkeys. i think everyone should write a story about typewriting monkeys. if they do so, i would be thrilled to edit the anthology. this all started, i should say, because i read a review of this in the times literary supplement and it mentioned that there is a whole chapter on what Emile Borel, the French mathematician, referred to as the "dactylographic monkey."
the chapter in question begins, quite wonderfully, with the sentence:
"Sooner or later, anyone writing about typewriting has to deal with the monkeys."

a most charming history of writing culture.

[Bostian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm jumping around this book; it's a collection of different items, like the title suggests; I started reading the section about William S. Burroughs. Most of the interesting material is more about our relationships to typewriters rather than a dull history of the industry. Not that I wouldn't mind reading more about the history of the industry, but....

My friend Carla in Portland sent me a copy last year, and I've been reading parts of it now & then, keeping it on my desk with my typewriter parts & tools.

[Scrivener]

Sent to me by a friend, inspired by my tattoo.

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lame. Poorly written. Not a good history of typewriters or typewriting at all.

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe I'm not as interested in typewriters as I thought I was, or maybe this book was too long.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Franz Kafka's first typewritten letter contained 12 typos.