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"A narrative full of suspense, pathos and humor. . . . In this elegant book [Winchester] has created a vivid parable, in the spirit of Nabokov and Borges. There is much truth to be drawn from it, about Victorian pride, the relation between language and the world, and the fine line between sanity and madness." — Daniel Mark Epstein, Wall Street Journal
“Splendid. . . . Simon Winchester could not have told it better.” —The Economist
In celebration of its 25th anniversary, an updated edition of the worldwide celebrated classic, featuring a new introduction by the author.
Masterfully researched and eloquently written, The Professor and the Madman 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—one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken. As definitions were collected, the OED’s overseeing committee, led by Professor James Murray, was stunned to discover that one man, Dr. W. C. Minor, had submitted more than ten thousand entries. But their surprise would pale in comparison to what they were about to discover when the committee insisted on honoring him. Dr. Minor, an American Civil War veteran, was also an inmate at an asylum for the criminally insane.
It is known as one of the greatest literary achievements in the history of English letters. The creation of the Oxford English Dictionary began in 1857, took seventy years to complete, and organized the language into 414,825 definitions. But behind this extraordinary achievement lies a shocking story — one of madness, deception and murder.
Bestselling author Simon Winchester chronicles the twenty year friendship between Professor James Murray, head of the committee that supervised the OED’s compilation, and Dr. William Chester Minor, who contributed more than ten thousand words to the project. After years of correspondence, Murray discovered that the learned doctor was also a killer, incarcerated at an asylum for the criminally insane. The Professor and the Madman is an enthralling tale of insanity, genius, and the incredible obsessions of two remarkable men. Simon Winchester’s many books include The Professor and the Madman, The Map That Changed the World, Krakatoa, and A Crack in the Edge of the World. Each has been a New York Times bestseller and has appeared on numerous “best” and “notable” lists. Mr. Winchester was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2006. He lives in Western Massachusetts. “The linguistic detective story of the decade.” — William Safire, New York Times Book ReviewYou may also like
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