The Surface of Meaning: Books and Book Design in Canada

by Robert Bringhurst

In this fascinating study, Robert Bringhurst takes readers on a walking tour through the bramble of book design, from the mid-18th century to the present day. Along the way, he discovers a true “image trove” of identity, culture, and history. Transcending other works on the subject, Bringhurst here creates a truly national survey by bringing Canada’s long history of aboriginal storytelling into a context of “book” — a context that goes far beyond the printed page.

Genres: Design, Nonfiction, Canada

240 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2008

About the author

Robert Bringhurst is a Canadian poet, typographer and author. He is the author of The Elements of Typographic Style – a reference book of typefaces, glyphs and the visual and geometric arrangement of type. He has also translated works of epic poetry from Haida mythology into English.

He lives on Quadra Island, near Campbell River, British Columbia (approximately 170 km northwest of Vancouver).