The Devil's Details : A History of the Footnotes

"[Zerby] offers an exhastive history of his subject, which includes such luminaries as Edward Gibbon, who devoted one-quarter of the space in "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" to footnotes. Zerby gladly follows his example, squeezing footnotes onto virtually every page of his book, including the cover. These annotations are, in fact, the best part of the book--hilarious, illuminating, opinionated and wide-ranging." --"BookPage"

A wonderful little treasure of learning, lightness and literary history . . . Invaluable to any and all who love the word, wit, and the world. "Kirkus Reviews," starred review, October 2001
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Zerby mounts a spirited defense of a little-loved and endangered species. "Boston Sunday Globe
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[Zerby] offers an exhastive history of his subject, which includes such luminaries as Edward Gibbon, who devoted one-quarter of the space in "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" to footnotes. Zerby gladly follows his example, squeezing footnotes onto virtually every page of his book, including the cover. These annotations are, in fact, the best part of the book hilarious, illuminating, opinionated and wide-ranging. "BookPage""

"A wonderful little treasure of learning, lightness and literary history . . . Invaluable to any and all who love the word, wit, and the world." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review, October 2001
"Zerby mounts a spirited defense of a little-loved and endangered species." --Boston Sunday Globe

"[Zerby] offers an exhastive history of his subject, which includes such luminaries as Edward Gibbon, who devoted one-quarter of the space in The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire to footnotes. Zerby gladly follows his example, squeezing footnotes onto virtually every page of his book, including the cover. These annotations are, in fact, the best part of the book--hilarious, illuminating, opinionated and wide-ranging." --BookPage