The Dictionary People
The unsung heroes who created the Oxford English Dictionary
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Vintage Publishing
Published:7th Sep '23
Should be back in stock very soon
This hardback is available in another edition too:
- Paperback£10.99(9781529922578)
**LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION 2024**
'Enthralling and exuberant ... Here is a wonder-book for word-lovers' Jeanette Winterson
‘A lively, entertaining, and illuminating read. I loved it’ Susie Dent
What do three murderers, Karl Marx's daughter and a vegetarian vicar have in common?
They all helped create the Oxford English Dictionary.
The Oxford English Dictionary has long been associated with elite institutions and Victorian men. But the Dictionary didn't just belong to the experts; it relied on contributions from members of the public. By 1928, its 414,825 entries had been crowdsourced from a surprising and diverse group of people, from astronomers to murderers, naturists, pornographers, suffragists and queer couples.
Lexicographer Sarah Ogilvie dives deep into previously untapped archives to tell a people's history of the OED. Here, she reveals, for the first time, the full story of the making of one of the most famous books in the world - and celebrates the extraordinary efforts of the Dictionary People.
** A Financial Times, TLS and Daunt Books Book of the Year 2023 **
'Utterly fascinating, entertaining, astonishing and as clever as a box of monkeys ... I completely love it' Joanna Lumley
'Full marks to Sarah Ogilvie... guaranteed to grab those of us obsessed with books, language and mystery' Financial Times
'[An] astonishing book' Sunday Times
'Touching ... The oddities [of language] enliven the book' Observer *Book of the Day*
'[An] affectionate and accomplished book'TLS
'Engaging' Spectator
'Marvellous, witty and wholly original' Alan Rusbridger
'Glorious and surprising' Richard Ovenden, Bodley's Librarian and author of Burning the Books
‘A fascinating and delightful exploration of the Victorian world … Wonderful’ Nicola Shulman, TLS Podcast
Marvellous… An unmissable, wonderful achievement -- Stephen Fry
Proof that not only do our words have extraordinary lives, but so do the people who have documented them for us. A lively, entertaining, and illuminating read. I loved it -- Susie Dent
Brilliant -- Philippa Perry
Utterly fascinating, entertaining, astonishing and as clever as a box of monkeys... I am bowled over by Sarah Ogilvie's book and every home should have a copy. I completely love it * Joanna Lumley *
Astonishing * Kathryn Hughes, The Sunday Times *
Who knew such mysteries lay behind the Oxford English Dictionary? This is a fascinating, unique and original book which uncovers the people behind the words. A jaw-dropping cross-section of society are revealed for the first time in all their complexity * Janina Ramirez, author of Femina *
Fascinating * Observer *
Exquisitely written ... A lively, funny book full of eccentrics * Jamaica Kincaid *
The Dictionary People is a fascinating read for anyone with an interest in dictionaries, social history or just people. Sarah Ogilvie has found a great subject and done it justice * Literary Review *
Enthralling and exuberant, Sarah Ogilvie tells the surprising story of the making of the OED. Philologists, fantasists, crackpots, criminals, career spinsters, suffragists, and Australians: here is a wonder-book for word-lovers * Jeanette Winterson *
ISBN: 9781784744939
Dimensions: 240mm x 162mm x 35mm
Weight: 611g
384 pages