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The Professor and the Madman

The Professor and the Madman - Thryft
The Professor and the Madman - Thryft

Obsession and genius leads to dictionary's creation.

The Professor and the Madman is the perfect read for history buffs and individuals fascinated with the intricacies of the English language. Winchester's eloquent writing pulls the reader into the madness and genius of two exceptional men, Professor James Murray and Dr. W C. Minor, and their pursuit to create the Oxford English Dictionary. A unique and distinctive feature of the book is its exploration of Dr. W C. Minor's background as an American Civil War veteran and a criminally insane inmate, adding an unexpected layer of depth to this historical narrative.

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.

The Professor and the Madman

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.

 

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ISBN: 9780060994860

Description

The Professor and the Madman, masterfully researched and eloquently written, is an extraordinary tale of madness, genius, and the incredible obsessions of two remarkable men that led to the making of the Oxford English Dictionary--and literary history. The compilation of the OED, begun in 1857, was one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken. As definitions were collected, the overseeing committee, led by Professor James Murray, discovered that one man, Dr. W C. Minor, had submitted more than ten thousand. When the committee insisted on honoring him, a shocking truth came to light: Dr. Minor, an American Civil War veteran, was also an inmate at an asylum for the criminally insane.


Author: Simon Winchester
Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 255
Publisher: HarperCollins s Inc
Publication Date: 01 Sep 1999
 

Obsession and genius leads to dictionary's creation.

The Professor and the Madman is the perfect read for history buffs and individuals fascinated with the intricacies of the English language. Winchester's eloquent writing pulls the reader into the madness and genius of two exceptional men, Professor James Murray and Dr. W C. Minor, and their pursuit to create the Oxford English Dictionary. A unique and distinctive feature of the book is its exploration of Dr. W C. Minor's background as an American Civil War veteran and a criminally insane inmate, adding an unexpected layer of depth to this historical narrative.

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.