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The Story of English

The Story of English

Third Revised Edition

About the Book

Now revised, The Story of English is the first book to tell the whole story of the English language. Originally paired with a major PBS miniseries, this book presents a stimulating and comprehensive record of spoken and written English—from its Anglo-Saxon origins some two thousand years ago to the present day, when English is the dominant language of commerce and culture with more than one billion English speakers around the world. From Cockney, Scouse, and Scots to Gulla, Singlish, Franglais, and the latest African American slang, this sweeping history of the English language is the essential introduction for anyone who wants to know more about our common tongue.
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Praise for The Story of English

"Highly enjoyable...A first-rate introduction to one of the most fascinating of subjects." —The New York Times

"Rarely has the English language been scanned so brightly and broadly in a single volume." —The San Francisco Chronicle

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About the Author

Robert McCrum
Robert McCrum is the author of six novels and co-author of the non-fiction bestseller, The Story of English. Now Literary Editor of The Observer, he lives in London with his wife and their daughter. More by Robert McCrum
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About the Author

Robert Macneil
Robert MacNeil was, until his retirement in October 1995, the coanchor of PBS's The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour. His books include four nonfiction works, including his two volumes of memoir, and three novels. MacNeil was named an Officer of the Order of Canada. He lives in New York City. More by Robert Macneil
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About the Author

William Cran
Robert MacNeil was, until his retirement in October 1995, the coanchor of PBS's The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour. His books include four nonfiction works, including his two volumes of memoir, and three novels. MacNeil was named an Officer of the Order of Canada. He lives in New York City. More by William Cran
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