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General Non-Fiction

Il dono di Cadmo

(Cadmus's Gift. The Incredible Story of the Letters of the Alphabet)

Ponte alle Grazie, October 2022, pp.192

Why is A the first letter of the alphabet? Why do we use a U after a Q?

The incredible, fascinating story of one of humanity’s most extraordinary inventions: the letters of the alphabet.

Why is A the first letter of the alphabet? Is it because Phoenicians considered the bull as the most valuable property? Why does D stand for 500 in Roman numerals? How can you see a man’s face in an M? Why do we use a U after a Q? This book is a history of the alphabet. The story of one of humanity’s most extraordinary inventions.

Equipped with a rich collection of images, a contagious inquisitiveness, as well as clear, engaging explanations, Alessandro Magrini takes us on a fascinating journey – one chapter per letter – from ancient Egypt to Phoenicia, to Greece and Rome, with a nod to the Etruscans.

Ponte alle Grazie, October 2022, pp.192

  • “How was every single letter born? Alessandro Magrini’s skilful essay tells us that by illustrating (with many pictures) each letter’s family tree.”

    Ida Bozzi, La Lettura, Corriere della Sera

  • “What’s good about Magrini’s essay is the gradual discovery that kindles the reader’s curiosity page after page.”

    Santa Di Salvo, Il Mattino

  • “Alessandro Magrini’s journey is filled with poetry that drifts from mythology to linguistics.”

    Marina Valensise, Il Messaggero

  • “The good old 26-letter alphabet, with all the intricate events Magrini summarises elegantly, is a masterpiece of ergonomics and practicality.”

    Stefano Bartezzaghi, Il Venerdì, La Repubblica

  • “Magrini is a highly-educated, serious scholar, but one who has the rare gift of popularization, which allows him to tackle the topic in a more pleasant manner, alternating extensive information with often unpredictable anecdotes.”

    Andrea Kerbaker, Il Sole 24 Ore

Alessandro Magrini

Alessandro Magrini since studying Classical Linguistics and Egyptology at La Sapienza University in Rome, he has never ceased to cultivate his passion for the study of languages and the ancient world. A qualified tourist guide in Rome, since he was very young Magrini has worked with Gruppi Archeologici d’Italia and the Centro Italiano di Archeologia Sperimentale. Ponte alle Grazie published Il dono di Cadmo. L’incredibile storia delle lettere dell’alfabeto (Cadmus’s Gift. The Incredible Story of the Letters of the Alphabet, 2022).

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