The Alphabet Abecedarium: Some Notes on Letters

by Richard A. Firmage

Drawing from Mythology, cosmology, history, the Bible, literature, and esoteric and conventional sources, this book takes the reader on a tour of each of the twenty-six letters that comprise one of civilization's greatest inventions, the Roman alphabet. In chapters that are descriptive, illustrative, and diverse, we are shown the history and development of every letter, how its shape evolved, how its characteristics were encoded, and how its history, attributes, and meanings were reflected in myth, literature, science, and religion.
This is one of those books full of the fruits of an inquiring and wide-ranging mind, rich in surprises and serendipities, and profusely illustrated with hundreds of letterforms and related drawings from ancient scripts to present-day digitized computer alphabets. The twenty-six alphabetic signs are, as Firmage shows, building blocks of our consciousness. Through the centuries they have been altered, written about, and thought of in ways that will surprise and delight even those who feel they are quite familiar with our letters.
Quoting sources as diverse as James Joyce, Rabelais, Dostoevsky, Twain, Elmer Fudd, and Bob Dylan, ranging from historical scholarship to deadpan comedy, from mysticism to McLuhan, from Pompeii to Poe to Pynchon, The Alphabet Abecedarium is a book for all those who think they know their ABCs or would like to learn them.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Language, Linguistics, Reference, Design

307 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1993

Reviews

[GoldGato · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alphabet, smalphabet. So much to learn about our A-B-C-D-E-F-G...history, printing, type, meaning. It's all here, from A to Z. And it's absolutely fascinating!

The Emperor Claudius thought the alphabet was not perfect and did his best to reform it. His suggestion for a letter to differentiate between the "v" and "w" sounds was not adopted, mainly because it looked like an upside down "f". The letter W did not really arrive until the Anglo Saxons and their runic language, so it has always had a bit of mystery to it, magic even. I've always felt a bit peculiar about W. I don't hate it but neither do I trust it. Ravens and talking stones, that's what I think about W.

X is the least used letter of the English alphabet. It's also the most foreign. I'm not sure how well it will do in today's xenophobic world, but I'll fight for X's right to be here. After all, it's well-developed and a member in good standing.

The letter I feel most sorry for is J. Let's be honest...it's like the classmate that's a little weird. Not a goth, not a geek, not a jock, just plain weird. The classmate who feels inferior but discovers he's really a royal prince of ancient Thebans, or something like that. That's J.

"I find the letter K offensive, almost nauseating." (Kafka)

To me, K represents totalitarianism. I don't know why, it just does.

C. The letter C is just plain bossy. Do this, do that. Proud of its ability to be both soft and hard as a consonant. C is the type of letter that tells you what to wear, where to live, who to see. I tolerate C, but would prefer it doesn't move next door to me.

The letter I admire the most is Q. It has a tail. Its mystical number is 100. It loves being part of a team, its usual partner being U. Yes, I like Q very much.

This is a David R. Godine publication, which means good quality and editing. My only qualm (told you I loved Q) is that there is SO MUCH information that each page feels very busy, very squishy with different fonts/types, quotations, and just plain data. All good, mind you. Not like that dratted K.

What is your letter of life?

Book Season = Autumn (some letters won't venture outside)

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is far more interesting than I'd ever expected. Who knew there was so much to know about the alphabet?

[Ron Kerrigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exhaustive examination of the alphabet (and some other characters in common and uncommon use.) Each letter is given a chapter (of about 7 - 9 pages) liberally illustrated with examples of the letter itself in various fonts and its use through the ages. Nice book to pick up now and then, or on a bus or train or ferry commute.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book probably isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, finding it too niche or nerdy, but I enjoyed it. It had some interesting things about the development and use of written language, and lots of illustrations, plus a dash of self-deprecating humor.

[Vera Versteeg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, this was a slog, but with enough interesting tidbits thrown in to keep me going. Wish this author had written this on the island of Nollop (see Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn if you've got an evening to waste). Got me to Zzzzzzz's every time I picked up, which was kind of my intent.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Abandoned on page 56 of 294. I know these type of books are a collection of random facts but it was just to random and incoherent for me.

[Jolene · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Mdaly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very entertaining and informative book about the 26 letters in the alphabet. The author doesn't take himself or the importance of his work too seriously and it is all the better for it.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The alphabet is awesome.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

so cute and fun and interesting !