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Wordsmiths and Warriors: The English-Language Tourist's Guide to Britain

Wordsmiths and Warriors: The English-Language Tourist's Guide to Britain

by David Crystal (Author), David Crystal (Author), Hilary Crystal (Author)

  • Used

    Hardcover 2013

    $3.29
Synopsis

Wordsmiths and Warriors explores the heritage of English through the places in Britain that shaped it. It unites the warriors, whose invasions transformed the language, with the poets, scholars, reformers, and others who helped create its character. The book relates a real journey. David and Hilary Crystal drove thousands of miles to produce this fascinating combination of English-language history and travelogue, from locations in south-east Kent to the Scottish lowlands, and from south-west Wales to the East Anglian coast. David provides the descriptions and linguistic associations, Hilary the full-colour photographs. They include a guide for anyone wanting to follow in their footsteps but arrange the book to reflect the chronology of the language. This starts with the Anglo-Saxon arrivals in Kent and in the places that show the earliest evidence of English. It ends in London with the latest apps for grammar. In between are intimate encounters with the places associated with such writers as Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Wordsworth; the biblical Wycliffe and Tyndale; the dictionary compilers Cawdrey, Johnson, and Murray; dialect writers, elocutionists, and grammarians, and a host of other personalities. Among the book's many joys are the diverse places that allow warriors such as Byrhtnoth and King Alfred to share pages with wordsmiths like Robert Burns and Tim Bobbin, and the unexpected discoveries that enliven every stage of the authors' epic journey.

$3.29

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Quantity

4 in stock

More Information

Format: Hardcover
 Pages: 432
 Publisher: OUP Oxford
Published: 26 Sep 2013
ISBN 10: 0199668124
ISBN 13: 9780199668120

Media Reviews
[A] labour of love, enthusiasm and mild eccentricity it's like a long and chatty guide written by a close friend, only in this case the friend happens to be one of the world's foremost authorities on language. Vulpes Libris Part history, part travel guide, illustrated with high-quality colour photographs of places associated with the development of the language and those writers who used it to greatest effect, it is an origianl and ambitious project wonderfully realised. Evergreen Language is a living thing, and Crystal is a lively, literate guide to the landmarks that signpost its long history. Iain Finlayson, The Times A splendiferous, beautiful, colourful book that every language, history, archaeology and literature lover should have on their coffee tables and tucked under their arms when they get on a train to jaunt across the country. Huffington Post Linguist David Crystal and his wife, Hilary, a speech therapist, cover a lot of ground, literally and figuratively, in this ambitious journey through the evolution of the English language. Publishers Weekly No person who loves language and visiting places should be without this book - I can't praise it highly enough! Michele Clarke, Editing Matters, Society for Editors and Proofreaders An absorbing read, delivered in Crystal's usual clear and enthusiastic style. The Good Book Guide an original and ambitious project wonderfully realised The Evergreen Magazine an important and original book on the history of the English language. Norwich Evening News An eloquent, learned guide offering inspiration for linguists and travellers alike. Sophie Mcgrath, Lonely Planet Traveller If you're currently looking for a Christmas present for someone with an interest in English and its history, you might want to consider this gorgeous book Language Hat
Author Bio
David Crystal is known throughout the world as a writer, editor, lecturer and broadcaster on language. He has published extensively on the history and development of English, including The Stories of English (2004), Evolving English (2010), Begat: The King James Bible and the English Language (2010), The Story of English in 100 Words (2011), and Spell It Out: The Singular Story of English Spelling (2012). Hilary Crystal trained as a speech therapist, worked for a while in clinical linguistic research, then became a sub-editor for the various volumes in the Cambridge and Penguin families of encyclopedias. She has designed several books, notably the anthologies of the poetry of John Bradburne edited by David.