Intro
In this episode of “The History of Rome,” host Andrew Leland explores the history of blind reading and the evolution of reading systems for the visually impaired. Drawing inspiration from H.G. Wells’ story “The Country of the Blind,” Leland reflects on his own experience of gradual vision loss and the changing relationship between print and blindness. He also discusses his new book, “The Country of the Blind,” which delves into societal conceptions of blindness and the search for identity and community. Join Leland as he uncovers the fascinating history of blind reading and the impact it has had on the lives of blind individuals.
Main Takeaways
Exploring Blind Reading
- H.G. Wells’ story ‘The Country of the Blind’ imagines a civilization of blind people living in a hidden mountain valley without any knowledge of the sighted world.
- The story explores the question of escape versus assimilation, which reflects Andrew Leland’s own experience of becoming blind and gradual vision loss.
- Andrew Leland has a book out today named after H.G. Wells’ story.
- Andrew Leland loves print but has a condition that will eventually change his relationship to it pretty radically.
- Andrew is lucky to be going blind in the digital age and the golden age of audio.
The Evolution of Reading Systems
- Blind people have been reading for centuries, but there’s a tension between systems that try to stay close to the original form of a book and those that depart from it.
- The history of blind reading is really the history of finding a new language for the fingers and ears that captures the essential elements of the ink print book.
- Valentin Awee founded the first known school for the blind in Paris in 1784.
- Awee’s student, Francois LaSour, noticed he could feel something on fancy embossed invitations, leading to the development of embossed printing in raised letters.
- The first machine-embossed book for the blind, a treatise on blind education, was made by Awee in 1786. However, the books were prohibitively expensive and difficult to produce.
- Louis Braille adapted a military code using dots instead of lines to create a more efficient reading system for the blind.
- Braille’s system was inscrutable to sighted people, but it was effective for blind people and designed by a blind person who understood their needs.
- Samuel Gridley Howe established the Perkins School in Massachusetts in 1829 and created the Boston Line Type, a system designed for both blind and sighted people to read together.
- Howe believed that using a separate system like Braille would isolate blind people and prevent them from integrating into the wider world.
- However, Braille was found to be superior to raised letters as it was more tangible and easier to write.
The War of the Dots and the Rise of Braille
- Howe invested a massive amount of time and resources into promoting Boston Line Type, which became one of the dominant print mediums for the blind across the US.
- The blind person, Louis Braille, was the expert in creating a much better system, but Howe’s commitment to the universal page of Boston Line Type delayed the adoption of Braille by close to 100 years in the US.
- In 1921, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) was formed by leaders from various organizations serving the blind, making it the most powerful blindness organization in the US.
- AFB’s priority was to make Braille the dominant system, but a cottage industry of competing systems arose in the US.
- The decisive battle in the war of the dots came in 1909 when New York City schools voted for Braille to be the main code for blind children, leading to the standardization of English Braille in the US by 1917.
From Talking Books to Cyborg Readers
- The first audiobooks and LPs were made for blind readers.
- Narrators like Alexander Skorvy became popular in the 1940s and 50s for their no-nonsense style that conveyed information without getting in the way.
- Blind readers like Harvey Lauer use a combination of braille, super sped-up talking books, and musical print to read, making use of more of their body and senses, earning them the nickname “cyborg.”
- Blindness could add something to life, increasing appreciation for the world around us.
Challenging Conceptions of Blindness
- Andrew Leeland discusses his new book, “The Country of the Blind,” and how societal conception of blindness affects those who are visually impaired.
- Imposter syndrome can arise from using blindness tools before it feels absolutely necessary.
- Blindness is a spectrum, and even those with no light perception can experience visual tinnitus.
- Blindness can lead to a search for identity and community.
- Blindness can invite invasive questions and presumptions of intimacy.
Summary
Exploring Blind Reading
Inspired by H.G. Wells’ story “The Country of the Blind,” Andrew Leland delves into the history of blind reading and reflects on his own experience of gradual vision loss. Leland’s new book, “The Country of the Blind,” explores societal conceptions of blindness and the search for identity and community among the visually impaired.
The Evolution of Reading Systems
The history of blind reading is a journey of finding new languages for the fingers and ears that capture the essence of ink print books. From Valentin Awee’s embossed printing to Louis Braille’s revolutionary system, blind readers have sought efficient and tangible ways to access written information. Samuel Gridley Howe’s Boston Line Type aimed to integrate blind and sighted readers, but Braille eventually prevailed as the dominant system.
The War of the Dots and the Rise of Braille
The battle between competing reading systems, known as the war of the dots, culminated in the adoption of Braille as the main code for blind children in the US. Despite initial resistance, the American Foundation for the Blind played a crucial role in promoting Braille and standardizing English Braille across the country.
From Talking Books to Cyborg Readers
The advent of audiobooks and LPs revolutionized reading for blind individuals. Narrators like Alexander Skorvy gained popularity for their informative yet straightforward style. Today, blind readers like Harvey Lauer embrace a combination of braille, super sped-up talking books, and musical print, earning them the nickname “cyborg.”
Challenging Conceptions of Blindness
In his book, “The Country of the Blind,” Andrew Leland discusses the impact of societal conceptions of blindness on visually impaired individuals. Imposter syndrome can arise from using blindness tools before feeling it is absolutely necessary. Leland highlights that blindness is a spectrum, and even those with no light perception can experience visual tinnitus. Blindness invites invasive questions and presumptions of intimacy, challenging blind individuals to assert their boundaries.
Conclusion
The history of blind reading is a testament to human adaptability and the constant evolution of reading systems. From embossed printing to Braille and the rise of audiobooks, blind individuals have found innovative ways to access written information. Andrew Leland’s exploration of blindness and his own experience in “The Country of the Blind” sheds light on the importance of challenging societal conceptions and embracing the unique perspectives and abilities of blind individuals.
