With dazzling wit and astonishing insight, Bill Bryson—the acclaimed author of The Lost Continent—brilliantly explores the remarkable history, eccentricities, resilience and sheer fun of the English language. From the first descent of the larynx into the throat (why you can talk but your dog can't), to the fine lost art of swearing, Bryson tells the fascinating, often uproarious story of an inadequate, second-rate tongue of peasants that developed into one of the world's largest growth industries.
1 of 4 copies available
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
December 15, 2015 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780062458537
- File size: 309614 KB
- Duration: 10:45:01
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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This extraordinary audiobook is a must-listen for the billions of people who speak English every day. It's full of riveting facts and oddities about the origin of the language that has taken over the world, even though its historical pedigree is questionable, at best. There are funny anecdotes throughout, and the author has done his research well. Given the wonderful text, it's disappointing to hear Stephen McLaughlin's dull, unimaginative narration. McLaughlin has a friendly, deep voice, but the text is far more interesting than his lackluster approach would indicate. He also needs to vary his tone to make the funny bits come alive. This is a great book, and it deserves a more robust reading. R.I.G. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine -
September 2, 1991
Bryson's blend of linguistic anecdotes and Anglo-Saxon cultural history proves entertaining but superficial. ``While his historical review is thorough. . . he mostly reiterates conventional views about English's structural superiority,'' said PW. ``He retells old tales with fresh verve . . . but becomes sloppy when matters of rhetoric and grammar arise.''
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