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Back to Font

Behind the Typefaces You Thought You Knew
By Anitra Nottingham and Jason Phillips
Laurence King Publishing
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Brief Description
Warning: this book may cause you to rethink your default typeface settings. Back to Font uncovers the secrets and lives behind 16 of the most famous typefaces. It answers all sorts of questions you might never have thought to ask before. Like: who were their 'parents'... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
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Warning: this book may cause you to rethink your default typeface settings.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Warning: this book may cause you to rethink your default typeface settings.

Back to Font uncovers the secrets and lives behind 16 of the most famous typefaces. It answers all sorts of questions you might never have thought to ask before. Like: who were their 'parents' and where were they 'born'? What's pretty and interesting about them, and what isn't? How are the typefaces used (and abused), and where can you find them 'in the wild'? Most importantly, these chatty and opinionated insights will help you decide whether to kiss, marry or kill each typeface.

Who knew type could provoke such controversy? (We did.)

Featuring:

Times New Roman / Gill Sans / Futura / Bodoni / Goudy / Baskerville / Akzidenz Grotesk /

Mrs Eaves / Trajan / Novarese / Bell Centennial / Foundry Sterling / Transport /

Zapf Dingbats / Univers / Papyrus

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781529438703

Publisher: Quercus Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 31 July 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Laurence King Publishing

Illustration: 265

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 14.0mm

Width: 168.0mm

Height: 214.0mm

Weight: 420g

Pages: 176

Collections

Anitra Nottingham Arts & Culture Fashion & Design Jason Phillips Laurence King Publishing Non-Fiction

About the Author

Anitra Nottingham worked as a book designer for Oxford University Press, and Penguin Books, Australia. She was Online Director for the School of Graphic Design at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco for 13 years, where she taught typography and graphic design history. Anitra is now Lead Learning Designer at the University of Melbourne Online, where, among other things, she ensures that the learning design team uses en-dashes correctly.

Jason Phillips began his career designing banknotes, before moving into book design for Oxford University Press, Hardie Grant Books, and a number of other Australian and international publishers. He spent a decade teaching tertiary-level typography and editorial design. Jason currently works in curriculum development in the vocational training sector, where his role includes educating stakeholders that Arial is not their friend.

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