Invisible Forms: A Guide to Literacy Curiosities

Library Journal

In this magnet for bibliognosts (people who have comprehensive knowledge of books and bibliography), journalist Jackson examines the many often overlooked aspects of books. He explores the time and energy that writers over the centuries have put into titles, dedications, epigraphs, acknowledgments, prefaces, footnotes, and indexes, focusing on works now considered classics by such authors as William Wordsworth, T.S. Eliot, James Boswell, and Charles Dickens. A few passing mentions are made of more contemporary writers. Intended as "entertainment," this book is packed with examples and extensive commentaries (as well as footnotes, acknowledgments, and an index). Jackson also explains how authors often chose pseudonyms from a combination of family names and how some have been known to review their own works using their birth names as bylines. There is no chapter on author book-jacket photographs, which is a more contemporary subject for investigation. Though not for the average reader, this book is a gold mine for students researching particular authors and readers wanting to know more about the words surrounding the text.--Joyce Sparrow, Juvenile Welfare Board, Pinellas Cty., FL Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.