Last month I wrote about books with amusing titles and soon afterwards, I was attracted by a notice of a book with a fabulous title – Index, A History of the: A Bookish Adventure by Dennis Duncan. He is an author, lecturer and translator with a special interest in paratexts (the parts of a book beyond the main text) and this book focuses on the index, an ancient information organiser and search tool still vitally important today.
Duncan tells the history of the index which came into being after the scroll was replaced by the codex (or book), when page numbers first started being used in books (we join the author who is “on the verge of tears” as he views the earliest surviving page-numbered manuscript in an archive), about the creation of a society of indexers, about mischievous indexers who have played tricks on readers, and even indexes which stand alone, without a main text. He illustrates how indexes were used as satirical weapons in the 18th century, he ‘test-drives’ a vast medieval subject index with entries pointing to several different books, and he shows how the index has been cleverly used in short stories and novels. As all authors know, authors tend to look themselves up in the indexes of other books, and Duncan includes a lovely anecdote of William F. Buckley sending Norman Mailer a copy of his new book, in which he had written ‘Hi!’ in the index next to Mailer’s name.
Duncan includes two indexes in his own book, as a way of illustrating the points he has been making. One has been created by a professional indexer and is full of self-referential gags; the other is generated by a computer software programme. The first is a pleasure to read, the second is a jumble, in which the word ‘afoot’ is given its own entry.
I once spent days working on the index for my own book Jane Austen and Crime – it was not an easy job at all and doing it gave me a whole new respect for indexers. This excellent book has greatly increased that respect for the nameless, hardworking people who put together those incredibly useful pages at the back of a book which we turn to so automatically and so frequently, when searching for a particular topic or reference.
Have you got any anecdotes about indexes? Have you read this book? Tell me by leaving a comment.
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Margaret Clingan Wright
Hullo, Susannah. I agree that indexes are wonderful things. In 1977 I was home mum, fitting in as much reading as I could when the children were sleeping or playing together happily. I looked up the index of a book I was reading on local Canberra history, and found that a whole section had not been sewn into the book. As the author/publisher was local, I rang him to see if I could have the missing section. He was Dr John Cumpston, and he is in the Australian Dictionary of Biography now. I had no idea then, about his work in the Antarctic. I went to his book-filled house, and we (of course!) fell into conversation about writing and books generally. He mentioned that he feared he didn’t have enough years left for all the work he had to do (he was born in 1909). He was spending his retirement as a publisher of Australian books that he considered worthy, but as yet unpublished. His company, Roebuck Society,(named after William Dampier’s ship) published about 30 book.
I gamely offered to help in any way I could. He asked if I had ever done any indexing. I said I had not, but I liked a fastidious index. So he handed me a thick folder of manuscript, and kindly said there was no rush! Well, it actually took me nearly a year, finding time with three small children.
When it was published, in 1981, he acknowledged me beautifully!! In the centre of the page:
Index prepared by Margaret Wright.
Then he sent me a copy of the review of the book, ‘Horse and Buggy Days’ by H. McGregor in Biblionews, December, 1983.It is Number 18 int he Roebuck series. Please forgive my quoting a relevant part of the review:
“The Index itself, (pp.219-42) was prepared by Margaret Wright. With over 2000 entries, it covers all proper names, identifies subject-matter, and is superb.”
You see, all I did was to make the sort of index that I need and want!
Susannah Fullerton
What a lovely story, Margaret – thanks so much for sharing it. Yes, a good index is very important. I really enjoyed the book about the Index.
I wrote my book ‘Jane Austen and Crime’ when I had 3 small children and I know how hard that was, so I am impressed that you managed to work on the index in similar circumstances.
Margaret Clingan Wright
Thanks, Susannah.
Your book sounds fascinating! And also with three small children!
I must get hold of it, and also the Duncan book.
I forgot to mention, but you would well know, that 1977 was pre-home computers. I used cards, but it worked.
I am cataloguing my own library using the old card system too, but not with the Dewey system. Just alphabetically, but with two cards for each book..an author card (white) and a title card(pink).
Susannah Fullerton
You can order my book from my website here: https://susannahfullerton.com.au/portfolio-item/jane-austen-and-crime/. Claire Tomalin kindly said that it was “essential reading” for all who love the novels of Jane Austen.
Yes, computers must have made life much easier for indexers!