Why Q Needs U
A history of our letters and how we use them
$27.89
- Hardcover
384 pages
- Release Date
28 January 2026
Summary
Every single one of the letters you’re reading right now can tell a fascinating story, having been on a long linguistic, historical, political and social journey to reach this very page.
The English alphabet is a tool that we’ve inherited down the centuries from ancient creators around the world. The alphabet hasn’t always had its present form, but rather has undergone all sorts of changes and evolutions to suit the needs of the time. Did you know that five English letters come from a…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781785307430 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 1785307436 |
| Author: | Danny Bate |
| Publisher: | Bonnier Books Ltd |
| Imprint: | Black and White Publishing |
| Format: | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages: | 384 |
| Release Date: | 28 January 2026 |
| Weight: | 410g |
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Critics Review
‘You’ll never look at a keyboard the same way after reading Danny Bate’s fascinating linguistic history’
* Sunday Times *A wonderful achievement! A breathtaking adventure through the alphabet - each letter a hero with a remarkable story to tell. An absolutely delightful read, filled with jewels of lightly worn scholarship and dazzling insight. I just couldn’t recommend it more highly. * Stephen Fry *
Why Q Needs U is a tremendously informative and entertaining biography of the letters of the alphabet that reveals surprising stories, makes astonishing connections and unveils the very roots of the language we speak. * Dr Francis Young, historian and author of ‘Pagans in the Early Modern Baltic’ *
Funny, smart, and totally absorbing, Bate’s words leap off the page and into your mind, convincing you that somehow you knew all about linguistics to begin with. A must read for all language lovers, and anyone who wants to win at pub trivia. * Dr Eleanor Janega, historian, author, co-host of Gone Medieval podcast *
The alphabet is a journey through time, and Danny Bate is a charming and erudite tour guide. If you read only one book about the alphabet I can enthusiastically recommend this one. * Lauren Gawne, host of Lingthusiasm and Senior Lecturer in Linguistics at La Trobe University *
Danny Bate
Danny Bate is a linguist, writer, broadcaster and podcaster who is fascinated by the study of historical languages and etymology. He took his BA and MPhil degrees from the University of York and the University of Cambridge respectively, and his PhD in linguistics from the University of Edinburgh.
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