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The Surgeon of Crowthorne : A Tale of Murder, Madness and the Oxford English Dictionary

by Simon Winchester
$12.87
The Surgeon of Crowthorne : A Tale of Murder, Madness and the Oxford English Dictionary - Thryft
The Surgeon of Crowthorne : A Tale of Murder, Madness and the Oxford English Dictionary - Thryft

Capturing the essence of the book in 8 words: Murder, madness, and the Oxford English Dictionary.

"The Surgeon of Crowthorne" could be a good read for those interested in the history of the English language, as well as true crime enthusiasts. The book's most unique and distinctive feature is the unlikely story of how a convicted murderer ended up being one of the most important volunteers in the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary. Readers will be intrigued by the strange and fascinating life of W C Minor, as well as the incredible effort it took to compile the dictionary over the course of 50 years.

  • Audie Award for Nonfiction, Abridged (1999)
  • National Book Critics Circle Award Nominee for General Nonfiction (1998)
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 Surgeon of Crowthorne : A Tale of Murder, Madness and the Oxford English Dictionary

by Simon Winchester
$12.87
ISBN: 9780140271287
Estimated First-hand Retail Price: $22.01
Authors: Simon Winchester
Publisher: Penguin
Date of Publication: 1999-01-01
Format: Paperback
Related Collections: History, Creative Nonfiction, Biographies & Memoirs
Related Topics: Biography, War, Historical, American History, Biography Memoir
Goodreads rating: 3.84
(rated by 116442 readers)

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.
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

Capturing the essence of the book in 8 words: Murder, madness, and the Oxford English Dictionary.

"The Surgeon of Crowthorne" could be a good read for those interested in the history of the English language, as well as true crime enthusiasts. The book's most unique and distinctive feature is the unlikely story of how a convicted murderer ended up being one of the most important volunteers in the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary. Readers will be intrigued by the strange and fascinating life of W C Minor, as well as the incredible effort it took to compile the dictionary over the course of 50 years.

  • Audie Award for Nonfiction, Abridged (1999)
  • National Book Critics Circle Award Nominee for General Nonfiction (1998)
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.