The Professor and the Madman
A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary
by:
Simon Winchester
in:
Biographies
Summary:
The book chronicles the true story of Dr. W.C. Minor, a Civil War veteran who contributed over 10,000 entries to the Oxford English Dictionary while institutionalized in an asylum for the criminally insane. It explores his unique collaboration with the dictionary's editor, James Murray, and delves into themes of madness, genius, and the extraordinary effort behind compiling the English language's most authoritative dictionary.
Key points:
1. The book details the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) by Professor James Murray in the 19th century, a project that aimed to document every English word, its origin, and usage.
