Typesetting

Alexander A. StewartProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.8

Word count: 180K words
Chapters: 19

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Typesetting by A. A. StewartAuthor: Stewart, A. A. (Alexander A.),Language: English, Class: Z: Bibliography, Library science, Release Date: Jun 27, 2014

Editor's review

This is an English-language professional work on typesetting in the public domain, classified under bibliography and library science (Class Z). It serves as an introductory text for understanding the basic principles and operating standards of traditional typesetting, focusing on technical processes rather than design theory. For readers studying early printing craft, the history of bookmaking, or library practice, it offers a firsthand technical account for reference; for those who want to understand how text was organized into pages before the advent of ebooks, it also has value. Because the text comes from Project Gutenberg, reading requires some English ability and a familiarity with the plain-text, usually unillustrated presentation common to public-domain books. It is best read as technical historical material or terminology reference, not as a tutorial for contemporary typesetting software. Read it alongside background knowledge in bibliography, noting basic concepts that connect with today's digital typesetting, such as letter spacing, line spacing, and page layout.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in the history of bookmaking and printing craft
Students and practitioners of library science and bibliography
English readers who need to understand traditional typesetting terminology
History and literature enthusiasts studying public-domain technical documents

Not a good fit for

Readers hoping to learn modern typesetting software operations
Beginners with weak English reading ability who need Chinese explanations
Design-oriented readers seeking richly illustrated, case-heavy books

Reading tips

Skim the table of contents and chapter titles first, locating key stages in the typesetting process before close reading.
Prepare a glossary of typesetting terms, noting English terms and their Chinese equivalents as you read.
Read alongside works on book history or printing history to understand the technical background.
Use the book as a reference manual, consulting the relevant chapter when you encounter a specific typesetting concept.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book suitable for someone with no typesetting background at all?

Not very suitable for complete beginners. This is an English technical document focused on traditional typesetting processes and terminology, lacking step-by-step explanations for beginners and demonstrations of modern software operations. With no foundation at all, start with a Chinese introductory book on typesetting, then use this as historical material or terminology reference.

What does this book have to do with modern digital typesetting?

The book discusses typesetting practice before ebooks became widespread; its basic concepts, such as letter spacing, line spacing, and page organization, connect with today's digital typesetting. You can link these concepts to corresponding functions in contemporary typesetting software, but do not expect operating instructions for digital tools.

What language level is needed to read this book?

This is an original English text involving specialized typesetting vocabulary; intermediate or higher English reading ability is recommended, along with a willingness to look up terms. If English is difficult, first build a foundation with Chinese materials on the history of typesetting, then read key chapters alongside them.

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About the author

Alexander A. Stewart Author · American

A. A. Stewart, whose full name was Alexander A. Stewart, was an American printing educator; public information about his birth and death dates and formal education is limited. He taught for many years at the printing school of the North End Union in Boston, instructing beginners and apprentices in the practical knowledge of typesetting, type, and composing-room equipment. For the education committee of the United Typothetae of America, he compiled several textbooks in the Apprentice series of the Typographic Technical Series, including Type, Typesetting, and Type Cases and Composing-room Furniture, and also edited a technical dictionary for printers. These works are notable for clear explanations of terms and concrete step-by-step descriptions, making mechanical features and operating procedures easy to understand; they became important introductory printing texts in the early twentieth-century English-speaking world and had a lasting influence on printing vocational education and apprentice training.