An Admirable Point

Name: An Admirable Point
Brand: Allen & Unwin
SKU: 9781800811973
Price: 32.99 NZD
Availability: InStock

A Brief History of the Exclamation Mark!

By Florence Hazrat

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3.37

( 108 ratings, 24 reviews)

Summary

An Admirable Point by Florence Hazrat delves into the history and cultural significance of punctuation, with a particular focus on the semicolon. The book explores how punctuation not only shapes writing but also influences thought patterns, creativity, and human connection. Hazrat presents a fascinating journey through literature and language, celebrating the semicolon's role in bridging ideas and emotions.
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Format: Hardback

$32⁹⁹

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An Admirable Point

$32⁹⁹

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

If you're fascinated by the intricate details of punctuation and how it shapes meaning and communication, you might enjoy this insightful exploration of a seemingly small but significant aspect of language. This book delves into the philosophical and psychological implications of punctuation marks, making it a captivating read for anyone interested in the deeper nuances of writing and interpretation.

An Admirable Point

Love it or hate it, the exclamation mark has been with us from Beowulf to the spam email - an enthusiastic history for language lovers!

Love it or hate it, the exclamation mark has been with us from Beowulf to the spam email - an enthusiastic history for language lovers!

Description

Few punctuation marks elicit quite as much love or hate as the exclamation mark. It's bubbly and exuberant, an emotional amplifier whose flamboyantly dramatic gesture lets the reader know: here be feelings! Scott Fitzgerald famously stated exclamation marks are like laughing at your own joke; Terry Pratchett had a character say that multiple !!! are a 'sure sign of a diseased mind'. So what's the deal with !?

An Admirable Point recuperates the exclamation mark from its much maligned place at the bottom of the punctuation hierarchy. It explores how ! came about in the first place some six hundred years ago, and uncovers the many ways in which ! has left its mark on art, literature, (pop) culture, and just about any sphere of human activity - from Beowulf to spam emails, ee cummings to neuroscience.

Whether you think it's over-used, or enthusiastically sprinkle your writing with it, ! is inescapable.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

An Admirable Point by Florence Hazrat is celebrated for its engaging and mischievous exploration of the exclamation mark's history, challenging strict language norms. Praised for its accessible yet scholarly style, the book delves into the mark's medieval origins, literary journey, and modern-day usage. Hazrat's admiration for the exclamation mark is evident, as she favours its vibrant and expressive nature over rigid grammatical rules.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781800811973

Publisher: Profile Books Ltd

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 03 November 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Profile Books Ltd

Edition: Main

Illustration: Black and white integrated

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 136.0mm

Height: 202.0mm

Weight: 260g

Pages: 176

Collections

Education & Reference Florence Hazrat Non-Fiction Philosophy & Psychology

About the Author

Florence Hazrat is a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow at the University of Sheffield, studying the bracket in early modern literature. She received her PhD from the University of St Andrews, where she researched refrains in the sixteenth century. She is a BBC/AHRC New Generation Thinker, a folk fiddler, and the host of a podcast about dots and dashes.