Book description
A charming and indispensable tour of two thousand years of the written word, Shady Characters weaves a fascinating trail across the parallel histories of language and typography. Whether investigating the asterisk (*) and dagger (+)--which alternately illuminated and skewered heretical verses of the early Bible--or the at sign (@), which languished in obscurity for centuries until rescued by the Internet, Keith Houston draws on myriad sources to chart the life and times of these enigmatic squiggles, both exotic (ΒΆ) and everyday (&).From the Library of Alexandria to the halls of Bell Labs, figures as diverse as Charlemagne, Vladimir Nabokov, and George W. Bush cross paths with marks as obscure as the interrobang (?) and as divisive as the dash (--). Ancient Roman graffiti, Venetian trading shorthand, Cold War double agents, and Madison Avenue round out an ever more diverse set of episodes, characters, and artifacts.Richly illustrated, ranging across time, typographies, and countries, Shady Characters will delight and entertain all who cherish the unpredictable and surprising in the writing life.
About the Author
Keith Houston is the author of Shady Characters and The Book. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, Mental Floss, BBC Culture, and on Time.com. He lives in Birmingham, England.
TulipCake
The auto-rewind feature is a small detail that makes a big difference. It enhances my listening experience. The intuitive chapter navigation and quick access to controls make my audiobook experience seamless.
Thrasher
I love that I can enjoy audiobooks while cooking elaborate meals in the kitchen. High-quality playback even with complex formats like FLAC. Impressive! Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun and interactive way to bond over stories.
Popeye Wipeout
This app's sleek design and intuitive navigation have made audiobook listening a seamless experience. The statistics tracking feature is very useful. ListenBook helps me keep track of my listening time.
StorySculptor
Audiobooks have made my morning routine something to look forward to. π Turning road trips into unforgettable adventures β audiobooks keep me entertained on the journey! ππ The ability to adjust playback speed and volume is a game-changer for me.
Moon Radar
It's like having a personal library that fits in my pocket β truly amazing! Audiobooks have become my bedtime companions, soothing me into a peaceful sleep. Looping playback is a valuable study tool. It helps me grasp complex content and retain information. CUE playlist support is a thoughtful feature that keeps my audiobook listening organized and enjoyable.
Delirium
Listening to audiobooks with my kids has become a cherished bonding activity. πͺ Doubling the impact of my workouts β exercising and exploring stories, all thanks to this app! πͺπ§ π Elevating my reading routine β this app's functionality is the key to unlocking new worlds of storytelling. ππ
Force
ποΈ Soaking up the sun with an audiobook by my side β beach days just got better! ποΈπ Audiobook multitasking made easy β this app's functionality is a marvel. ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is an innovative touch that adds a layer of personalization. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun way to connect over shared interests. Makes audiobook listening super easy and enjoyable. Thanks, ListenBook!
Noise Toy
I'm impressed with the wide range of supported formats. Finally, an app that plays all my audiobooks flawlessly. Automatic extraction of artwork and metadata adds a touch of elegance to my audiobook collection. I love the auto-rewind feature. ListenBook always picks up right where I left off.
Black Fantastic
I'm hooked on this app β it's like Netflix for book lovers! ListenBook's compatibility with various formats ensures that my audio needs are met. The app's ability to extract artwork and metadata automatically is a huge time-saver. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a wonderful way to spread the love of literature. The ability to download audiobooks directly is fantastic. ListenBook is very convenient.
Miss Nova
The convenience of downloading audiobooks for offline listening is a game-changer. Accessing my favorite audiobooks has never been easier β this app's user-centric design and comprehensive features make it an absolute gem. π±π§ The app is perfect for road trips. It keeps me entertained for hours.
Bowie
With this app, I can switch seamlessly between my iPhone and iPad, making my reading experience continuous. Navigating through my audiobook library is a joy with this app's intuitive interface and easy controls. It's like having a personal reading companion at my side. π±π
Murder Cherry
ListenBook's sleek interface and precise controls make it a joy to use during my daily listening sessions. Seamless audiobook integration β this app's design is a true delight. Tone adjustment is a brilliant addition that lets me personalize the narration to my liking. It adds an extra layer of connection to the audiobooks. ListenBook has become my trusted companion. It's my go-to app for expanding my knowledge and enjoyment. Supports extensive playlists and bookmarks. Very user-friendly.
InsightfulInk
With ListenBook, my audio content is organized, accessible, and ready to inspire me. π Rekindling my love for stories β this app's accessibility has reignited my passion! ππ From novels to speeches, this app's versatility in playing different formats has turned my ordinary moments into extraordinary listening sessions. π±π ListenBook Pro takes things up a notch with unlimited audiobook length. It's a game-changer! I appreciate the dark mode option. Itβs easy on the eyes during nighttime listening.
Pompeii Unicorn
Thank you for making literature more accessible, enjoyable, and immersive. This app is a game-changer! I can't get enough of this app β it's a true game-changer for book lovers. The book groups feature is a thoughtful addition. It helps me keep my series and related titles together. From MP3 to FLAC, this app plays them all flawlessly. Say goodbye to compatibility issues! ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a game-changer. It enhances the clarity of recordings and makes my listening sessions more enjoyable.
Avenge Paws
π The ease and functionality of this app make it my go-to choice for immersive audiobook experiences. π±π§ ListenBook's loop and shuffle playback features add versatility to my audiobook listening experience. I love the ability to change the background color. Itβs a nice touch.
Icy Avenger
ListenBook's sharing options make it easy for me to connect with fellow audiobook enthusiasts. Love the download options. ListenBook gives me so many ways to get my audiobooks onto my device.
Napoleonic Haze
π Adding excitement to each day β this app ensures that every moment is an opportunity to explore new stories. ππ ListenBook's integration with AirDrop and sharing options makes it simple to spread the joy of storytelling. ListenBook is the best audiobook player Iβve ever used. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, making it a joy to use. Five stars!
Betty Cricket
I'm blown away by the powerful audio downloading options. So versatile! ListenBookβs interface is clean and intuitive. Itβs a joy to use.
InsightfulInk
πΆββοΈπ Walking my way through exciting narratives β this app makes exercise more fun! ποΈπ§ Bravo to the creators of this app β they've truly captured the essence of convenient audiobook enjoyment. The smooth playback and thoughtful design are a win. ππ The statistics feature is brilliant. I love seeing how much time I spend on audiobooks with ListenBook.
East Army
I'm amazed at how this app seamlessly integrates with my daily routine. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch makes it a versatile companion for my daily activities. π Embracing a new reading habit with this app's seamless accessibility. Say goodbye to boredom! π±π
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience