The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon WinchesterMy review
rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book has deepened my respect for the development of the English dictionary. It had not registered what a monumental undertaking it was, spanning about 4 decades. And this element of the story was truly fascinating: how events unfolded so that an American Civil War surgeon, imprisoned in a British insane asylum, would contribute so massively to the overall work. I think anyone who appreciates the process of research, the era of the latter half of the 19th century, or who has a love of words, would appreciate this book!
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