On the Mark

Take a riotous, witty, and globe-trotting journey through language with On the Mark: A History of Punctuation from Ancient Egypt to the Emoticon by Florence Hazrat!

About the Book: “So. Good. So. Sharp. So. Clear. You. Need. This. Book. Period” — Lucy Mangan, author of Bookish “A roller coaster of a story” — New York Times

Ever since the dawn of writing, punctuation has been the invisible architect of our stories. In this brilliant and engaging history, Florence Hazrat uncovers the fascinating creators and rebels who shaped the marks we use every day. From the scribes of ancient Alexandria who simplified their scrolls with early full stops and commas, to Renaissance writers wielding semicolons and exclamation marks to satirize society, right up to contemporary digital generations inventing new rules for emojis, capitalization, and irony online. On the Mark celebrates the silent heroes of grammar—commas, colons, parentheses, and pilcrows—that infuse our words with emotion, breath, and meaning.

Key Features & Benefits:

• Riotous & Witty History: Transforms a seemingly dry subject into an entertaining, fast-paced cultural page-turner praised by the New York Times and literary critics.

• Vast Chronological Scope: Explores language evolution from ancient Egyptian and classical origins straight through to modern digital communication and emoticons.

• Celebration of Language: Deepens any reader's appreciation for the nuances of writing, editing, and creative expression.

• The Perfect Gift: An absolute treat for writers, editors, word nerds, history buffs, and bibliophiles.