Clara Istlerová: A Life Among Letters reveals the design landscape of the former Czechoslovakia through the lens of designer Clara Istlerová (b. 1944). The trailblazing Istlerová is one of the few female figures in Czech typography: this book introduces readers to her renowned book designs and features an intimate interview with Istlerova, accompanied by work from her personal archive and details of her creative process. Through editor Anezka Minarikova's foreword and interview, supporting texts by Jan Rous and Zuzana Lednicka, and an extensive archive of images, A Life Among Letters offers a vivid portrayal of an era during which design was a tangible, labor-intensive, and collaborative endeavor. All together, the book unveils the Czech design narrative of the twentieth century to English-speaking readers, highlighting Istlerova's lasting impact and central role. Offering a vivid portrayal of an era where design was a tangible, labor-intensive, and collaborative endeavor, "A Life Among Letters" unveils the Czech design narrative of the twentieth century to English-speaking readers, highlighting Istlerova's lasting impact and central role.

Anežka Minaříková is a Czech graphic designer and visual artist based in New York. She experiments with typography, illustration, writing, and technology to explore what graphic design can be. She recently co-founded an independent design practice with her husband and creative partner, Marek Nedelka. Minaříková is the author of Clara / Clara Istlerová, Her Work and Life (AAAD, 2020) and the editor of Mysterious Letters (Letter Books, 2023), a collection of interviews and essays on the Voynich Manuscript. She holds a BA from the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague and an MFA from the Yale School of Art. From 2022 to 2024, she was part of Google Creative Lab 5 and has received fellowships from CCAM and Yale.