I See a Voice

'An unquestionable triumph... Ree writes beautifully, orchestrating a scarcely credible range of historical, philosophical and literary references into a narrative that fairly jumps off the page.'

'Some philosophers take difficulty and try to make it simple, but Ree takes what is apparently mundane and undeniably everyday and make it hard and wonderful. Rewriting the history of the treatment of the deaf, he scrutinises the everyday significance. Psychoanalysis and Freud's writings flood into his text, along with Wordsworth, Proust and his own poignant memories of things past. His writing's melancholy richness soaks up the culture of the late twentieth century: its emphasis on subjectivity and uncertainty; its sense of the individual; its receptivity to other forms; its confessionalism and belief in self scrutiny... in a passionate, philosophical history of language, deafness and the senses.'
NICCI GERRARD, 'Observer'

'A fascinating, original, deeply suggestive work, written with haunting power and beauty.'
BEN ROGERS, 'Financial Times'

'[Many stories, each] dazzling in its implications, entrancing in itself, sizzle through 'I See A Voice'. By the end, as well as knowing more about the history of deaf education, the reader will know why sign language is a real language, how dickens used to mark up his texts to give extraordinary readings, how historical etymology began, but more than this, the book transmits the intoxicating fever of philosophy, of wondering why along with everyone who has wondered why.'
VICTORIA NEUMARK, 'TES'