The adventure of English
500AD to 2000 : the biography of a language
by Melvyn Bragg, Robert Bee, David Thomas, and Nigel Wattis
- 1 Want to read
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. Along the way its colorful story takes in a host of characters and locations, from the early tribes, Alfred the Great's stubborn resistance to the Danes, and through its early literary masterpieces such as Beowulf and the bawdy Geoffrey Chaucer; Henry VIII's battles with the church over bootleg bibles; a 'coarse' playwright named William Shakespeare; the songs of the Creole slaves and the worlds of Davy Crockett; street slang and Dr. Johnson's dictionary; the role of English in India and its adoption in the United States of America which returned the language with full interest.
Check nearby libraries
Buy this book
Previews available in: English
Subjects
English language, History| Edition | Availability |
|---|---|
1
The adventure of English: the life story of a remarkable language
2009, Athena
videorecording :
in English
1598282204 9781598282207
|
zzzz
|
2
The adventure of English: 500AD to 2000 : the biography of a language
2005, Windsor
in English
- Large print ed.
0754095584 9780754095583
|
aaaa
|
Book Details
Table of Contents
Edition Notes
Originally published: London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2003.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Classifications
The Physical Object
ID Numbers
Work Description
Melvyn Bragg and other experts explore the 1,500-year history of the English language and answer questions such as: How did it grow from a relatively insignificant Germanic dialect to become the premier language of culture, commerce, and diplomacy around the globe? Includes guide for group discussions, avenues for further learning, biographies, web extras, and much more.
Community Reviews (0)
Feedback?
| January 16, 2024 | Edited by ImportBot | import existing book |
| May 23, 2019 | Created by MARC Bot | import new book |