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The Professor and the Madman

A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary (P.S.)

bySimon Winchester

Genres: Biography Nonfiction History Memoirs

Who is this book for? Readers interested in language, history, and biographies of notable figures.

Topics HistoryFriendshipMental illnessLexicographyEtymologyUnited states civil warGeniusObsessionCollaborationLinguisticsMadness and GeniusLanguage and Etymology

MoodReflective, Hopeful

The Professor and the Madman, masterfully researched and eloquently written, is an extraordinary tale of madness, genius, and the incredible obsessions of two remarkable men that led to the making of the Oxford English Dictionary -- and literary history. The compilation of the OED began in 1857, it was one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken. As definitions were collected, the overseeing committee, led by Professor James Murray, discovered that one man, Dr. W. C. Minor, had submitted more than ten thousand. When the committee insisted on honoring him, a shocking truth came to light: Dr. Minor, an American Civil War veteran, was also an inmate at an asylum for the criminally insane. This P.S. edition features an extra 16 pages of insights into the book, including author interviews, recommended reading, and more.

Language

Published on

05/07/2005

Pages

288

Format

Paperback

ISBN

9780060839789

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