The Adventure Of English

Name: The Adventure Of English
Brand: Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand
SKU: 9780340829936
Price: 29.99 NZD
Availability: OutOfStock

The Biography of a Language

By Melvyn Bragg

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Summary

The Adventure of English by Melvyn Bragg explores the journey and evolution of the English language from its ancient origins to its global spread. The book delves into how historical events, cultural shifts, and influential figures shaped English, turning it into a dominant international language. It's both a fascinating linguistic exploration and a tale of cultural transformation over several centuries.
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Format: Paperback / softback

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this captivating journey into the history of the English language if you're intrigued by how a language evolves, influences culture, and shapes societies. This work provides an insightful exploration of English's transformation and expansion over the centuries, offering a compelling blend of linguistic history with cultural and social insights.

The Adventure Of English

Melvyn Bragg's bestselling biography of the English language - a modern classic for fans of Neil MacGregor and Simon Jenkins

Melvyn Bragg's fascinating biography of the English language

Description

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.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Melvyn Bragg's The Adventure of English is praised for its engaging, narrative style that traces the historical journey of the English language. Reviewers highlight its intellectual depth, accessibility, and Bragg's ability to present a complex subject in a clear, entertaining manner. The book is described as concise, thought-provoking, and full of excitement, offering an approachable yet comprehensive account of English’s evolution.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780340829936

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 12 April 2004

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Sceptre

Illustration: 2 x 8pp b/w & colour photos

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 28.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 284g

Pages: 368

Collections

Education & Reference Melvyn Bragg Non-Fiction Philosophy & Psychology

About the Author

Melvyn Bragg's first novel, For Want of a Nail, was published in 1965 and since then his novels have included The Hired Man, for which he won the Time/Life Silver Pen Award, Without a City Wall, winner of the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize, Credo, The Maid of Buttermere and The Soldier's Return, which was published to huge critical acclaim in 1999 and won the WHSmith Literary Award. He has also written several works of non-fiction including Speak for England, an oral history of the twentieth century, Rich, a biography of Richard Burton and On Giants' Shoulders, a history of science based on his BBC radio series. He was born in 1939 and educated at Wigton's Nelson Tomlinson Shool and at Oxford where he read history. He is controller of Arts at LWT and President of the National Campaign for the Arts, and in 1998 he was made a life peer. He lives in London and Cumbria.