A Typographer Writes ...

As a typographer I am often asked: Why are modern fonts such crap? Who or what is marginalia? What is wrong with Times Old Roman? and Is there a good modern book on bad modern fonts?

Happily such questions are easily answered: I don't know. I don't care. Nothing and Yes. To elaborate on the last of these: only yesterday there came into my possession "The Serif of Nottington: The Evolution of a Font" by Charles and Maurice MacPro. I recommend it to all those whose interests extend to good modern books on bad modern fonts.

The Serif of Nottington tells the fascinating story of the evolution of the Professor Thrupiece Font. Part of the Threadbone Press's Typefaces of Note Series it is set in Minion Pro with smatterings of Garramond Pro (fonts which actually have serifs). The Professor Thrupiece font itself is entirely upper case and contains no serifs - an irony lost on the designers, authors and - likely - the reading public alike.

Still the truth should never spoil a good pun.

For those for whom such volumes hold little interest, I suggest "Scene of the Crime" by Shelley-Lulette Sizemore which is beautifully set in Adobe Garamond with occasional Helvetica Neue interleaves. I am told the story itself is "passable if you like that sort of thing". I don't.

The Serif of Nottington is available as a digital download HERE

Browse the Threadbone Non-fiction Catalogue HERE

Download Shelley-Lulette Sizemore's sensational "Scene of the Crime" HERE