The Search for the Perfect Language.
ECO, Umberto. Translated by James Fentress,
Language: English
Published by Blackwell Publishers, Oxford / New York, 1995
- First Edition
- Signed
- Hardcover
- Used
Seller: Orpheus Books, Edmonds, WA, U.S.A.Orpheus Books
AbeBooks seller since November 30, 1999
Condition: Used - As new
£ 231.56
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
First edition / First printing. Signed on the title page by Umberto Eco and dated 4.12.96. Black cloth. xii, 385 pages. Very fine in very fine dust jacket. Original wrap around band and pamphlet laid in, also fine.
Seller Inventory # 17179
- Title
- The Search for the Perfect Language.
- Author
- ECO, Umberto. Translated by James Fentress,
- Publisher
- Blackwell Publishers, Oxford / New York
- Publication year
- 1995
- Condition
- As New
- Dust jacket
- As New
- Signed
- Signed by Author(s)
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 0631174656
- ISBN 13
- 9780631174653
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Printing
- 1st Printing
- Item weight
- 3 pounds
- Seller catalogs
- Essays, Literature, Signed Books
From the early Dark Ages to the Renaissance it was widely believed that the language spoken in the Garden of Eden was just such a language, and that all current languages were its decadent descendants from the catastrophe of the Fall and at Babel. The recovery of that language would, for theologians, express the nature of divinity, for cabbalists allow access to hidden knowledge and power, and for philosophers reveal the nature of truth. Versions of these ideas remained current in the Enlightenment, and have recently received fresh impetus in attempts to create a natural language for artificial intelligence.
The story that Umberto Eco tells ranges widely from the writings of Augustine, Dante, Descartes and Rousseau, arcane treatises on cabbalism and magic, to the history of the study of language and its origins. He demonstrates the initimate relation between language and identity and describes, for example, how and why the Irish, English, Germans and Swedes - one of whom presented God talking in Swedish to Adam, who replied in Danish, while the serpent tempted Eve in French - have variously claimed their language as closest to the original. He also shows how the late eighteenth-century discovery of a proto-language (Indo-European) for the Aryan peoples was perverted to support notions of racial superiority.
To this subtle exposition of a history of extraordinary complexity, Umberto Eco links the associated history of the manner in which the sounds of language and concepts have been written and symbolized. Lucidly and wittily written, the book is, in sum, a tour de force of scholarly detection and cultural interpretation, providing a series of original perspectives on two thousand years of European History.
The paperback edition of this book is not available through Blackwell outside of North America.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Orpheus Books
Edmonds, WA, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since November 30, 1999
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 5 to 14 business days | 3 to 6 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 4.50 | £ 12.36 |
Payment methods
- Bank Draft
- Cash
- Check
- Money Order
- Paypal
Store description
Business is conducted via internet, mail order and book fairs.
Specialty
Dance, Art, Signed First Editions, Poetry, Signed Anthologies, Modern First Editions, Music, Cinema, Architecture, PhotographySeller's business information
Orpheus Books
WA, U.S.A.
Terms of sale
Terms: Check, Money Order, or Cashiers Check with order unless credit has been established. Credit
cards are accepted through PayPal and the ABE site. Books may be reserved by telephone (425-556-
9376) or Email (orpheusbooks@frontier.com) and will be held for 1 week pending payment in full. Note:
When we state First Edition we are speaking of a First Printing. We strongly recommend that you call or
Email to reserve books prior to sending payment via mail. Please telephone between the hours of 9 a.m.
and 9 p.m. Pacific Time.
Barbara Wight
Orpheus Books
10425 170th Ave. NE
Redmond, WA 98052-2740
Make Checks Payable To: Orpheus Books.
Washington State residents must include 9.5% sales tax.
Note: Shipping is taxable in Washington state.
International orders must be paid in U.S. currency and will be shipped at different rates.
We ship via the U.S. postal service, FedEx and UPS unless other arrangements are made. If you select
surface mail, it will be shipped via media rate. Oversize and heavy shipments will accrue additional
charges.
Returns may be made within 7 days of receipt and must be insured at full value and received in the
same condition as when sent. Prior notice of return is appreciated.
We are always interested in purchasing fine first editions.
A note on condition: Our best books are rated very fine and we are most conservative in our grading.
We take pride in maintaining a significant selection of fine books. Your trust is of great importance to
us and everything we sell is guaranteed. Archival dust jacket covers are provided with all hardcover
books.
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to Orpheus Books, Edmonds, Washington, U.S.A., +1 (425) 670-2077, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.
Shipping terms
Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required.