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The Adventure of English - The Biography of a Language

by Melvyn Bragg
$11.90
The Adventure of English - The Biography of a Language
The Adventure of English - The Biography of a Language

English language's remarkable, centuries-spanning journey.

If you've ever been curious about how English became the complex, far-reaching language it is today, Melvyn Bragg's 'The Adventure of English' is a page-turner you shouldn't miss. It's like watching history unfold through the lens of language, revealing fascinating instances of evolution, survival, and transformation. This book has the potential to deepen your appreciation for every word you speak or write.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.
New

The Adventure of English - The Biography of a Language

by Melvyn Bragg
$11.90
ISBN: 9781611450071
Authors: Melvyn Bragg
Publisher: Arcade
Date of Publication: 2011-04-01
Format: Paperback
Related Collections: Biographies & Memoirs, Personal Development, History
Related Topics: European History, Historical, Biography, American History, Microhistory
Goodreads rating: 3.94
(rated by 4998 readers)

Description

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 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.
Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

Books in Like New Condition

This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Very Good Condition

This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Good Condition

We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Well Read Condition

This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

Find out more about our process here.

 

Similar Reads

English language's remarkable, centuries-spanning journey.

If you've ever been curious about how English became the complex, far-reaching language it is today, Melvyn Bragg's 'The Adventure of English' is a page-turner you shouldn't miss. It's like watching history unfold through the lens of language, revealing fascinating instances of evolution, survival, and transformation. This book has the potential to deepen your appreciation for every word you speak or write.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.