Hans-Joachim’s work was first reviewed at length in the English speaking world by Marion Muller in Upper and lower case (U&lc) in 1988. But by the time of his death in 2009 Hans-Joachim Burgert’s work in many media, together with his critical writings on aesthetics and calligraphic theory had carried his international reputation well beyond the scope of his press. In this article Clayton describes some of the books Burgert produced but his main purpose is to paint the wider picture of the influence his work has had in one particular area – a transformational development in western calligraphy at the end of the twentieth century. If Edward Johnston was the key figure at the opening of the twentieth century, Burgert is the key figure at the century’s conclusion.