Born to South American parents, British citizen, cosmopolitan at heart, Edward Wright – painter and object-maker, typographer, writer, teacher – was an enigmatic presence in London’s post-War art and design scene. Wright has been described thus: ‘His subjects: human communication, the mundane, the street. His manner: sparing, self-critical, yet the work had vigorous attack and full conviction. His typical method: assemblage, with what was to hand.’

The book, published by the University of Reading, is not an exhibition catalogue. It was planned, instead, as a companion to the exhibition. It brings back into circulation some forgotten texts written about Edward Wright by contemporaries – collaborators, students, and critics. It republishes an important handful of Wright’s own writings from diverse sources. The book ends with two very useful listings: a biographical outline of Edward Wright and a bibliography of writings about and by him.

An exhibition of Wright’s design work was held from January until May 2007 at the Department of Typography & Graphic Communication University of Reading, accompanied by this publication of Edward Wright: readings, writings and emerges from a research project funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council, entitled The optimism of modernity: recovering modern reasoning in typography