Spines

[ad hoc]

Did you know that there isn't a universally accepted book spine orientation? Hungarians for example do it the opposite way round to the way the UK /US do. I don't know if they're the only "upside-down" European language publishers who exist but I'd like to know

To give an example, this is a small shelf in our house. All these books are the right way up

[ursus arctos]

There is even variation within countries

[caja-dglh]

There is even variation within countries

I think this might be an area where even DCI Harry Batt can agree there should be rules.

[ursus arctos]

Yet another source of disappointment for him, then

France and Germany are generally "Hungarian", but not always.

Italy is generally "Anglo", but not always.

[Etienne]

Yeah, I hate the way my French books look on shelves.

[Uros Predic]

I noticed this for the first time when designing the jacket for my own book last year.

I was also surprised to find there was no standard format of whether it should be title or author first.

[DCI Harry Batt]

I think this might be an area where even DCI Harry Batt can agree there should be rules.

Hey. Just because I'm (not) an anarchist doesn't mean I don't think we need rules.

[DCI Harry Batt]

We had French books when I was a kid, so I have always known they are (generally) wrong.

[matt j]

I checked my shelf. The only one that isn't 'right', is one from Hungary. ('Omelette a Woburn' - Kosztolanyi, Holibri Press)

[ad hoc]

I checked my shelf. The only one that isn't 'right', is one from Hungary. ('Omelette a Woburn' - Kosztolanyi, Holibri Press)

Kolibri, I suspect. I don't think there is a word holibri

[matt j]

I admit I don't actually know if that was the publisher, but it says Holibri on the bottom of the cover, and I can't find any other usage of it in the front/back matter.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Omelette-Wo.../dp/9630937050

(which says: "Kossuth K?nyvkiad?" as publisher, so I have no idea what Holibri means.)

[ursus arctos]

Looks to be an imprint of sorts

[Patrick Thistle]

JD Salinger liked titles to be printed horizontally on book spines. Specified it in his publishing contracts.

[ursus arctos]

[Toby Gymshorts]

On a slightly different tack, people who snap the spines of books (probably pretty much confined to paperbacks) are psychopaths who want locking up.

[jwdd27]

The Polish are also "Hungarian", judging from the handful of mostly cookbooks we have. I've never noticed that before.

[San Bernardhinault]

Do you mean people who end up with snapped book-spines - which is totally normal behaviour for normal humans? Or are there people who actively snap the spines as they start to read?

[matt j]

Looks to be an imprint of sorts

Which, naturally, that example has the spine the 'right' way (opposite of my book).

[ursus arctos]

Also has the author's name in Anglo format

[Patrick Thistle]

are there people who actively snap the spines as they start to read?

Yes. Monsters exist.

[Antepli Ejderha]

Turkish books are also Hungarian style.

[ad hoc]

Also has the author's name in Anglo format

I notice, now that you point it out, that in the shelf pictured, Marukami is named in the Hungarian order, but Saramago named in "our" way (and his, of course). Is that because in Japanese it would be more like Marukami Haruki? Or is it just the individual publisher choice?

[Toby Gymshorts]

Or are there people who actively snap the spines as they start to read?

There are. It makes me cringe every time I witness it.

[ursus arctos]

I notice, now that you point it out, that in the shelf pictured, Marukami is named in the Hungarian order, but Saramago named in "our" way (and his, of course). Is that because in Japanese it would be more like Marukami Haruki? Or is it just the individual publisher choice?

Publisher's/Translator's choice, unless the author cares enough to make it part of the contract

Murakami has been consistently "Anglo order" in English language editions of which I am aware, though there is some evidence that that convention may be changing slowly (The Economist recently adopted Japanese order)

[ad hoc]

We tend to "Anglo order" Hungarian writers too
https://www.ndbooks.com/book/satantango/

(and of course, footballers)