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The Adventure of English: The Biography of a Language
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The Adventure of English: The Biography of a Language Paperback - 2011

by Melvyn Bragg

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Reader reviews for The Adventure of English: The Biography of a Language

From the publisher

"Superb. . . . Inspiring."--Newsday. "A captivating history."--The Daily Telegraph. "A thorough and incredibly enjoyable trip down a linguistic memory lane."--Bloomsbury Review

Here is the riveting story of the English language, from its humble beginnings as a regional dialect to its current preeminence as the one global language, spoken by more than two billion people worldwide. In this groundbreaking book, Melvyn Bragg shows how English conquered the world. It is a magnificent adventure, full of jealousy, intrigue, and war--against a hoard of invaders, all armed with their own conquering languages, which bit by bit, the speakers of English absorbed and made their own.

Along the way, its colorful story takes in a host of remarkable people, places, and events: the Norman invasion of England in 1066; the arrival of The Canterbury Tales and a "coarse" playwright named William Shakespeare, who added 2,000 words to the language; the songs of slaves; the words of Davy Crockett; and the Lewis and Clark expedition, which led to hundreds of new words as the explorers discovered unknown flora and fauna.

The Adventure of English is an enthralling story not only of power, religion, and trade, but also of a people and how they changed the world.

Details

  • Title The Adventure of English: The Biography of a Language
  • Author Melvyn Bragg
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition 58026th
  • Pages 336
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Arcade Publishing, New York, NY
  • Publication date 2011-04-01
  • ISBN 9781611450071 / 1611450071
  • Weight 1 lbs (0.45 kg)
  • Dimensions 8.9 x 6 x 1.2 in (22.61 x 15.24 x 3.05 cm)
  • Themes
    • Cultural Region: British
  • Category Reference
  • Library of Congress subjects English language - History
  • Library of Congress Catalogue Number 2011001766
  • Dewey Decimal Code 420.9

About the author

Melvyn Bragg is a writer and broadcaster and the author of numerous novels, including the trilogy The Soldier's Return, A Son of War, and Crossing the Lines, published by Arcade. He has won the Time/Life Silver Pen Award, the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize, the WHS Smith Literary Award, and has been longlisted for the Man Booker Prize twice. He has also written several works of non-fiction, including The Book of Books about the King James Bible, and The Adventures of English, also published by Arcade. He lives in London and Cumbria.

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The Adventure of English: The Biography of a Language
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The Adventure of English: The Biography of a Language

by Bragg, Melvyn

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9781611450071 / 1611450071
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Arcade. Used - Acceptable. BOOK HAS MINOR LIQUID STAINING. Paperback 100% of proceeds go to charity! Acceptable reading copy with obvious signs of use, wear, and/or cosmetic issues. Item is complete and remains readable despite notable condition issues.
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The Adventure of English: the Biography of a Language
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The Adventure of English: the Biography of a Language

by Melvyn Bragg

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Index and bibliography, illustrated. Companion volume to the eight part history channel series. The front cover is creased. The extremities are moderately worn. The first fourteen pages are soiled on the left side. The rest of the text is clean and unmarked.
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The Adventure of English : The Biography of a Language

The Adventure of English : The Biography of a Language

by Melvyn Bragg

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Skyhorse Publishing Company, Incorporated, 2011. Paperback. Acceptable. Disclaimer:A readable copy. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact. Pages can include considerable notes-in pen or highlighter-but the notes cannot obscure the text. At ThriftBooks, our motto is: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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The Adventure of English : The Biography of a Language

The Adventure of English : The Biography of a Language

by Melvyn Bragg

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The Adventure of English : The Biography of a Language

The Adventure of English : The Biography of a Language

by Melvyn Bragg

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Skyhorse Publishing Company, Incorporated, 2011. Paperback. Very Good. Disclaimer:A copy that has been read, but remains in excellent condition. Pages are intact and are not marred by notes or highlighting, but may contain a neat previous owner name. The spine remains undamaged. At ThriftBooks, our motto is: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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The Adventure of English: The Biography of a Language

by Melvyn Bragg

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Arcade, 2011. Paperback. New. New tightly bound softcover in printed wraps. 8vo. (9½ X 7). Clean text free of marks of marks or underling. B&W photos and illustrations. Includes bibliography and an index. 336 pp. Fast shipping in a secure book box mailer with tracking. "Superb. . . . Inspiring."--Newsday. "A captivating history."--The Daily Telegraph. "A thorough and incredibly enjoyable trip down a linguistic memory lane."--Bloomsbury Review Here is the riveting story of the English language, from its humble beginnings as a regional dialect to its current preeminence as the one global language, spoken by more than two billion people worldwide. In this groundbreaking book, Melvyn Bragg shows how English conquered the world. It is a magnificent adventure, full of jealousy, intrigue, and war--against a hoard of invaders, all armed with their own conquering languages, which bit by bit, the speakers of English absorbed and made their own. Along the way, its colorful story takes in a host of… Read more
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New York: Arcade Publishing, 2011. Soft cover. Fine. Large Octavo. Book.
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The Adventure of English: The Biography of a Language
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The Adventure of English: The Biography of a Language

by Bragg, Melvyn

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Arcade, 2011-04-01. 36204th. paperback. Used: Good. 6.00x1.00x9.00. Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy.
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The Adventure of English - New York Times Best Seller : The Biography of a Language
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The Adventure of English - New York Times Best Seller : The Biography of a Language

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The Adventure of English: The Biography of a Language
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The Adventure of English: The Biography of a Language

by Bragg, Melvyn

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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
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Arcade Publishing, 2011-04-01. 36204th. Paperback. Good. tight, uncreased spine, pages clear and bright, shelf and edge wear, cover curl, corners bumped, ex-library copy with usual library markings and laminated cover, packaged in cardboard box for shipment, tracking on U.S. orders
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