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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 began in 1857, it was
… More »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 began in 1857, it 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. This P.S. edition features an extra 16 pages of insights into the book, including author interviews, recommended reading, and more.
« LessThe man who taught Latin to cattle
The madness of war
Gathering Earth's daughters
The big dictionary conceived
The scholar in cell block two
Entering the lists
Annulated, art, brick-tea, buckwheat
The meeting of minds
The unkindest cut
Then only the monuments
"First HarperPerennial edition published 1999. Reissued 2005"--T.p. verso
Includes bibliographical references (p. [239]-242)
The dead of the night in Lambeth Marsh -- The man who taught Latin to cattle -- The madness of war -- Gathering Earth's daughters -- The big dictionary conceived -- The scholar in cell block two -- Entering the lists -- Annulated, art, brick-tea, buckwheat -- The meeting of minds -- The unkindest cut -- Then only the monuments
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Add a CommentI was totally fasinated. Don't read other reviews before as it might ruin the true story.
What an interesting book. I had no idea and I found the story very well written. It think that the author provided just the right amount of everything.
Tells the tale of the making of the Oxford English dictionary and the monumental effort it demanded. Interesting the way they went about it, but the part of the story I was most intrigued by was Minor’s life and the suggested events that drove him to his madness. I couldn’t help but notice the similarities of his symptoms to those of today’s alien abductees. Even more intriguing was the connection of his duties as a doctor in the Civil War to the cause of his insanity. This story prompted me to take a look at some of suggested readings mentioned at the end of the book. I am looking forward to finding out more on the subject of the OED and the making of other dictionaries and related works. Enjoyable , different, liked it!
This book was very interesting and I learned a great deal about the OEC. However, in the middle it was quite slow and became somewhat repetative.
This book is a close kin to the Winchester’s “The Meaning of Everything”. Both books deal with the compilation of the Oxford English Dictionary. In “The Meaning…” allusion is made to a particularly productive “volunteer” who was most prodigious in his contributions to the work of the dictionary’s authors. At a very early date, James Murray, the father of the OEC, wondered about this contributor who was making such a massive contribution, frequently send virtual parcels of written work to the Scriptorium where the work of the compilation was being done. Without saying more about the identity of this mystery contributor, this book, like the others of his works that I have read, is extremely engaging. His subject, which isn’t necessarily riveting per se, is worked with in such a way that the book becomes interesting and even engrossing. As always, Winchester causes us to give our own dictionary a work-out the likes of which it usually doesn’t get. But then what does it profit a reader if he or she has a dictionary and never has cause to use it?
This is not a fair rating, because I didn't finish the book. I love the OED, so I expected I would like this book, but the writing was so dry and so lacking in plot that it gave more pain than pleasure to dog my way through it. I gave up after the first chapter.
7 subject headings...something for everyone -those interested in: - American Civil War - origin of words - the making of the OED, - psychopatholgy - the unlikely genius of madmen
A glimpse into the lives of two key individuals - an insane American and of the chief editors of the OED - who made valuable, lifelong contributions to the dictionary. Winchester provides great insight into the little know history of this monumental work. Who knew the OED could be so entertaining?!
a proposed additional title for Winchester fans for June 2010
One of the most interesting books I have ever read. Tells the history of an individual, a time, and the amazing creation (over 70 years and four editors) of the Oxford English Dictionary.