The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of The Oxford English Dictionary
Registered by danadoodle on 9/12/2005
6 journalers for this copy...
interesting read of how 10,000 entries to the oxford english dictionary were made by an american in an asylum.
he tends to repeat himself from chapter to chapter like he's recapping the story in case you forgot.
he tends to repeat himself from chapter to chapter like he's recapping the story in case you forgot.
Also caught this one at our BC meeting. I read Winchester's Krakatoa 2 years ago and liked it a lot, so I'm lookig forward to this one.
It pleases me no end to send along this book, received many years ago from longtime bookcrosser Danadoodle, as a RABCK to ReallyBookish. Enjoy!
This is a very kind RABCK from my wishlist from fellow BookCrosser Sistermadilou. Thank you so much!
Sistermadilou, I finally got around to reading this book. I'm sorry that it took me so long! And I have no idea why I didn't get to it sooner, since it was a very good read. Just too many TBRs, I suppose. Not that I am complaining!
I do have to agree with danadoodle's comment about the repetition. The story is fascinating, but I think Winchester had a word count goal to meet. :) However, it is a short book, so the repetition didn't really bother me.
The crux of what makes the book enjoyable is quite simply the story, a nugget of history dug up and polished by Winchester into a satisfying yarn. It seems to be well-researched, and if he does occasionally veer a bit in the direction of sensationalizing the material, well... at least he gave us an entertaining read. I was surprised by how compelling I found the book to be in places. The pace does trail off a bit towards the end, but that was okay.
All in all, a good read. I think book lovers will generally enjoy this one. Also... illustrations! I love it when adult books have illustrations. I think more of them should, actually.
This is headed off now to NancyNova, who tells me that this is her September book club read. What serendipitous timing!
I do have to agree with danadoodle's comment about the repetition. The story is fascinating, but I think Winchester had a word count goal to meet. :) However, it is a short book, so the repetition didn't really bother me.
The crux of what makes the book enjoyable is quite simply the story, a nugget of history dug up and polished by Winchester into a satisfying yarn. It seems to be well-researched, and if he does occasionally veer a bit in the direction of sensationalizing the material, well... at least he gave us an entertaining read. I was surprised by how compelling I found the book to be in places. The pace does trail off a bit towards the end, but that was okay.
All in all, a good read. I think book lovers will generally enjoy this one. Also... illustrations! I love it when adult books have illustrations. I think more of them should, actually.
This is headed off now to NancyNova, who tells me that this is her September book club read. What serendipitous timing!
Journal Entry 6 by ReallyBookish at Wishlist Tag Game , A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Friday, August 5, 2016
Released 7 yrs ago (8/5/2016 UTC) at Wishlist Tag Game , A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Off to NancyNova, as part of the wishlist tag game. Enjoy!
It's here! September book club read, and I also have the sister book by Winchester, The Meaning of Everything, with the same bearded guy on the cover! I'm going to try to read both in time for the bookclub.
rabck from ReallyBookish, TLC book club read, alas not wonderful as touted. The story jumps a bit, trying to provide equal focus on the US Army surgeon, who's delusions caused him to commit murder and be committed to an asylum in the UK, from where he wrote thousands of entries for the OED. And the Professor James Murray, who winds up coordinating the task of the thousands involved in submitting definitions, quotations, pronunciations, etc. that are making up this dictionary.
This one will head out to the Netherlands later this week.
This one will head out to the Netherlands later this week.
Journal Entry 9 by NancyNova at - Per post of in persoon doorgegeven, Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Saturday, October 8, 2016
Released 7 yrs ago (10/8/2016 UTC) at - Per post of in persoon doorgegeven, Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
A wishlist book. Enjoy!
If you aren't familiar with Bookcrossing, take a few minutes to check out this very cool site. Bookcrossers LOVE books, and more than anything, they love to read books and then set them free for other people to find and enjoy. I would love it if you would leave a journal entry -- you can say where you found the book or how you liked it when you read it. Then, when you are ready, pass it along for someone else to enjoy! Thanks and happy reading!
If you aren't familiar with Bookcrossing, take a few minutes to check out this very cool site. Bookcrossers LOVE books, and more than anything, they love to read books and then set them free for other people to find and enjoy. I would love it if you would leave a journal entry -- you can say where you found the book or how you liked it when you read it. Then, when you are ready, pass it along for someone else to enjoy! Thanks and happy reading!
Journal Entry 10 by dutch-book at Heerenveen , Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Tuesday, October 25, 2016
It arrived here last week! I'm really looking forward to this book! Thanks NancyNova for sending this to me!
Journal Entry 11 by dutch-book at Heerenveen , Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Thursday, April 26, 2018
I really liked this book. I love it when authors find little history nuggets, research it and then write a book about it. Reminds me a little of 'The poisoner's handbook'.
Taken from the book buffet at the wonderful Dutch BC unconvention at a café on the beach at Castricum.