The Adventure Of English: The Biography of a Language
Hodder & Stoughton
'Superb'
Spectator
'Consistently entertaining'
Independent
'Impressive and sage'
New Statesman
'Bragg's affection for his subject is infectious'
Observer
English is the collective work of millions of people throughout the ages. It is democratic, ever-changing and ingenious in its assimilation of other cultures. English runs through the heart of world finance, medicine and the Internet, and it is understood by around two thousand million people across the world. Yet it was very nearly wiped out in its early years.
In this book Melvyn Bragg shows us the remarkable story of the English language; from its beginnings as a minor guttural Germanic dialect to its position today as a truly established global language. The Adventure of English is not only an enthralling story of power, religion and trade, but also the story of people, and how their day-to-day lives shaped and continue to change the extraordinary language that is English.
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Reviews for The Adventure Of English: The Biography of a Language
Andrew Roberts, Spectator
Concise as well as learned...Melvyn Bragg takes the high road and strides confidently through the origins and growth of English. It gives us an impressive and sage view of the big picture.
Robert Winder, New Statesman
Bragg is an expert translator in areas that academics find difficult to popularise...he produces a pithy, accessible narrative.
Guardian
This breathless tale of the English language is one of struggle, resilience and triumph
Irish Times
Beautifully clear and, indeed, thrilling
Waterstone's Books Quarterly
Bragg's approachable account gleams with little gems. It has power and clarity...rewarding.
Sunday Herald
Always readable, often thought-provoking, and consistently entertaining.
Independent
This is a highly readable, jargon-free treatise on a notoriously prickly subject. Bragg's affection for his subject is infectious. In this he successfully joins a long tradition of gentleman enthusiasts from peppery Dr Johnson to genial James Murray.
Observer