From A to Z — The Strange and Secret History of the Letters You Read Every Day

You read thousands of letters a day without ever wondering where they came from. From A to Z uncovers the strange and secret history of the alphabet — one of the greatest inventions in human history.

From writing before the alphabet and the great invention that captured sound, to how letters changed their shapes and the hidden histories of individual letters, this book turns every page you read into a small wonder.

What you’ll discover

• Discover how writing worked before the alphabet
• Understand the great invention that captured sound
• Trace the long journey and changing shapes of letters
• Explore the hidden histories of individual letters
• See how the alphabet spread reading and changed the world

Inside this book

• What a letter really is
• Writing before the alphabet
• The great invention of the alphabet
• How letters capture sound
• The long journey of the letters
• How letters changed their shapes
• The order of the alphabet + capital and small letters
• The power of the alphabet and the spread of reading
• The many alphabets of the world
• The hidden histories of individual letters + 100 facts

Who it’s for

Word and history lovers — and anyone who wants to see the letters they read every day with new eyes.

Why this book

The alphabet is so familiar it's invisible. This book makes it visible again — and reveals the wonder on every page.

More "Hidden Histories" to explore

Fall down another fascinating rabbit hole: The Money Spell · Word Magic · The Bean That Conquered the World. Browse the full Digital Library, or explore our free tools and blog.

Love this kind of thing? Unlock the whole series (and every other eBook) with an All-Access Pass from $14.99/month.

Instant PDF download — read on any device. Explore further at Encyclopaedia Britannica, Smithsonian Institution.