Active Literature: Jan Tschichold and New Typography

by Christopher Burke

Jan Tschichold (1902-1974) is considered by many to be the most influential typographer of the twentieth century. A leading voice of the modernist movement, Tschichold oversaw the redesign of the Penguin and Pelican paperbacks in the late 1940s and devised for them a standardized set of typographic rules. The classical type designs of his late career qualify him as perhaps the first typographic postmodernist. Active Literature , an in-depth study of Jan Tschichold's modernist period, is based on extensive archival research that uncovered a wealth of new photographs of his design work. Author Christopher Burke presents a full portrait of the designer's career and puts into context Tschichold's own account of his life and work.

Genres: Design

336 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2007

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well researched book with a great design.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only did Burke write the book, he designed it — and the typefaces, too!

[Tim Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best detailed studies of the range of Tschicholds brilliance, read alongside his own writing and collections of Avant Garde Design and you have a profound graphic education package