 "Psychological thriller that can't be put down" | 2008-08-03 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2G3U6AM951P6D |
Absent the anti-Christian bias of his geological disaster books, Winchester writes a very good tale about a fascinating sidebar of history during the compilation of the OED. The madman was an American military surgeon (son of missionaries to Sri Lanka!) who served in the Union army during the Civil War, whose slow spiral to insanity culminated in the shooting of an innocent man in London 15 years later. The professor was the editor of the OED who corresponded with the madman for 20 years at the asylum outside London where he made a full-time career of volunteering word lists and quotes to the OED editorial team.
How their histories shadowed and paths crossed, and how the OED came to be, make for a great story. The book was lavishly praised and worthily so, reading like a psychological thriller that can't be put down. I literally read through this in less than 24 hours in just a few sittings. |
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 "the madness of scholarship" | 2008-07-14 |
| - Reviewed By bossuet |
| Many academics and scholars border on creative madness, take Kierkegaard and Nietzsche for example. This book is marvellous reading since the dull subject of dictionary making is enlivened by eccentric personalities and mental disturbance. It reveals how a dictionary as prestigious as the Oxford English Dictionary was put together. Any author who can make such a dry subject as exciting as a murder mystery deserves a good deal of credit and acclaim. |
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| "A fun, informative piece of history" | 2008-05-31 |
| - Reviewed By twilight1 |
There is a certain "Did you know..." factor about the "new" genre of creative nonfiction: we read it for both the informative componenet, and the fact that quite a bit of history is, well, interesting. Did you know, for example, that the main contributor to the Oxford English Dictionary was insane?
Dr. W.C. Minor was an American soldier in the Civil War, who later moved to England, where he wound up shooting a man. He was placed in an asylum (not the greatest of places in those days), where he was given a few more perks than the other inmates, simply because he was non-violent (despite the reason for his incarceration) and intelligent. One day, he happened to come across an advertisement: Professor James Murray, along with an elite group of gentlemen, was creating the single-greatest compilation of the English language ever conceived. Minor, with nothing but time on his hands, decided to pitch in. Over ten-thousand words later, Minor was the single-greatest contributor to the single-greatest dictionary ever created.
It is a compelling, surprising story, told in Winchester's usual novel-meets-nonfiction style. While I enjoy a good piece of creative nonfiction, I find myself time and time again returning to Winchester's work not necessarily because of the topic, but because I enjoy his style so much. (It just so happens he chooses interesting topics to write upon.) The "P.S." section of this book, as with the others, doesn't offer too much, though there is an intriguing little section: Winchester's favorite words from the OED. Still, you'll purchase "The Professor and the Madman" for the story itself--and it's a doozy. True, too. Funny, how facts can sometimes be more interesting--and harder to believe--than fiction. |
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| ""A word lovers dream"" | 2008-05-04 |
| - Reviewed By florevl2 |
| This book was simply marvelous, if you are into the story of the origins of the Oxford English Dictionary, this is a book that captures the makings and includes the story of two gentlemen who's lives inevitably come together in bizzare but wonderful order of circumstances, if you Love words and their origins, you will be astounded by this book! |
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| "Good, interesting read." | 2008-01-31 |
| - Reviewed By jawlz |
Interesting story about the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary, and one of its most prolific 'authors.'
There's not a great deal of depth here, but this is a well written book that makes a great companion to the OED itself. |
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| "Words make me crazy." | 2008-01-23 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2FX7PLXZ5OWQ |
| This is an absorbing story of, as the title states, the making of the Oxford English Dictionary. You'll gain an appreciation for dictionaries and the people who have labored to produce them for us. You'll also get a stranger-than-fiction depiction of the life of a man whose prolific contributions to the OED were essential to its creation. This is great non-fiction writing and would probably appeal to those who like the works of Erik Larsen. |
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| "Bits of everything" | 2008-01-04 |
| - Reviewed By birdwoman95 |
One of the things I've learned to love about non-fiction is how so many different things can be tied together in one topic.
If I were to say, "this book is about the making of the OED", most people's eyes would glaze over, and rightfully so.
However, it's also about a notorious murderer, the civil war, Samuel Johnson, Victorian treatments for mental illness and VD, and so many other things.
The information runs the gamut from the funny to the strange to the interesting to the incredibly sad. I did like that, though much of the book made you feel compassion for Dr. Minor, the madman in the title, the epilogue reminds you of the heinous crime he committed.
In all, though not the easiest read (it is the making of the OED, after all), this was a great book.
(*)> |
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| "A true tale well told" | 2007-12-27 |
| - Reviewed By cmw-tzvi |
I first found this book in my local library, and was engrossed by the tale told so well in its pages. Although the title seems sensational, the story told within is very tastefully done, and has no sensational tone. I came away with an appreciation of the OED, the process of its compilation, and with a better understanding of the ramifications (as well as the limitations) of the use of confinement of the clinically insane.
As soon as I saw this book available for a reasonable price, I added it to my own collection. I have even loaned my copy to friends, and their response was as enthusiastic as my own.
If these subjects are in any way of interest to you, you will not regret purchasing this book. |
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| "Excellent read. You'll think differently about dictionaries when you're finshed!" | 2007-11-15 |
| - Reviewed By toptraincat |
| This was a book club selection I was reluctant to read because it sounded dull. I was happily surprised to discover it was fun to read, very informative and as I own a copy of the OED, even more interesting. Highly recommend for anyone that loves words. |
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 "Interesting, but cannot match its own hype" | 2007-09-10 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1L1ZYOS0YX21P |
| I think that I could've really enjoyed this book on its own merits had the author not continued to insist throughout that the story was horrifying, amazing, shocking, thrilling, electrifying, and tragic by turns. Rarely can these "sensationalist histories" live up to their own hype. I found the book a fascinating look into the development of the OED with the bonus of the intriguing back story of one its most unusual volunteer contributors. Isn't that good enough? Why must everything be oversold? Note to the publisher: Next time undersell, over-deliver. |
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