William Dana Orcutt

author

William Dana Orcutt

1870–1953

Drawn to beautiful books as both objects and ideas, this American writer and designer helped shape the craft of printing in Boston while also publishing works of history, fiction, and literary reflection. His career linked the making of books with a deep affection for reading, typography, and the life of the mind.

6 Audiobooks

The Writer's Desk Book Being a Reference Volume upon Questions of Punctuation, Capitalization, Spelling, Division of Words, Indention, Spacing, Italics, Abbreviations, Accents, Numerals, Faulty Diction, Letter Writing, Postal Regulations, Etc.

The Writer's Desk Book Being a Reference Volume upon Questions of Punctuation, Capitalization, Spelling, Division of Words, Indention, Spacing, Italics, Abbreviations, Accents, Numerals, Faulty Diction, Letter Writing, Postal Regulations, Etc.

by William Dana Orcutt

In quest of the perfect book : Reminiscences & reflections of a bookman

In quest of the perfect book : Reminiscences & reflections of a bookman

by William Dana Orcutt

The Spell

The Spell

by William Dana Orcutt

The Author's Desk Book Being a Reference Volume upon Questions of the Relations of the Author to the Publisher, Copyright, The Relation of the Contributor to the Magazine, Mechanics of the Book, Arrangement of the Book, Making of the Index, Etc.

The Author's Desk Book Being a Reference Volume upon Questions of the Relations of the Author to the Publisher, Copyright, The Relation of the Contributor to the Magazine, Mechanics of the Book, Arrangement of the Book, Making of the Index, Etc.

by William Dana Orcutt

The Bachelors: A Novel

The Bachelors: A Novel

by William Dana Orcutt

The Lever: A Novel

The Lever: A Novel

by William Dana Orcutt

About the author

Born in West Lebanon, New Hampshire, in 1870, William Dana Orcutt became known as an American author, book designer, and typeface designer. He graduated from Harvard University in 1892 and went on to build his career in the world of fine printing and publishing, especially in Cambridge and Boston.

Orcutt worked with the University Press and became closely associated with the art of bookmaking at a time when printing was both a craft and a cultural force. He also designed typefaces and wrote about the history and meaning of books, including The Magic of the Book and In Quest of the Perfect Book, works that reflect his lasting fascination with how books are made and why they matter.

Alongside his work in printing, he wrote across several genres, including local history, biography, and fiction. That blend of practical skill and literary curiosity makes him an especially interesting figure for audiobook listeners: someone who cared not only about the words on the page, but also about the form that carried them to readers.