Inventing English - 2nd Edition by Seth Lerer (Paperback)

About the Book

A masterful, engaging history of the English language from the age of "Beowulf" to the rap of Eminem, this book percolates with creative energy ("Publishers Weekly").

Book Synopsis

Seth Lerer tells a masterful history of the English language from the age of Beowulf to the rap of Eminem. Many have written about the evolution of grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary, but only Lerer situates these developments within the larger history of English, America, and literature. This edition features a new chapter on the influence of biblical translation and an epilogue on the relationship of English speech to writing. A unique blend of historical and personal narrative, Inventing English is the surprising tale of a language that is as dynamic as the people to whom it belongs.

Review Quotes

"A personal, selective, and impassioned journey through the history of English."--Times Higher Education Supplement"An invigorating read for the mind and the mouth."--Bloomsbury Review"Lerer not only navigates the shifting currents and boiling rapids of English, but also explores its secret coves."--Advocate"[A] remarkable linguistic investigation."--Booklist"Written with real authority, enthusiasm, and love for our unruly and exquisite language."--Washington Post"The book percolates with creative energy and will please anyone intrigued by how our richly variegated language came to be."--Publishers Weekly"Erudite and accessible."--Globe & Mail"An unusual linguistic and literary feast."--Michigan Quarterly Review

"A personal, selective, and impassioned journey through the history of English."--Times Higher Education Supplement"An invigorating read for the mind and the mouth."--Bloomsbury Review"Lerer not only navigates the shifting currents and boiling rapids of English, but also explores its secret coves."--Advocate"[A] remarkable linguistic investigation."--Booklist"Written with real authority, enthusiasm, and love for our unruly and exquisite language."--Washington Post"The book percolates with creative energy and will please anyone intrigued by how our richly variegated language came to be."--Publishers Weekly"Erudite and accessible."--Globe & Mail"An unusual linguistic and literary feast."--Michigan Quarterly Review

[An] elegant book.--Karenn Krangle"Vancouver Sun" (01/01/0001)

A fresh look at the history of the English language.--Cynthia Lee Katona "Magill Book Reviews "

An important and valuable source for anyone who loves the English language, and language in general.--Gale Zoe Garnett"Toronto Globe & Mail" (01/01/0001)

An unusual linguistic and literary feast.--Anne Curzan"Michigan Quarterly Review" (01/01/0001)

Erudite and accessible. [Lerer] brings both love and rigour to his subject.--Gale Zo? Garnett"Globe & Mail" (01/01/0001)

Fun and illuminating.--Carol White"The Main Artery" (01/01/0001)

Interesting and informative.--Tom Oleson"Winnipeg Free Press" (01/01/0001)

Lerer not only navigates the shifting currents and boiling rapids of English, but also explores its secret coves.--Rob Kyff"Advocate" (01/01/0001)

Nonspecialists will join scholars in praising this remarkable linguistic investigation.--Bryce Christensen"Booklist" (01/01/0001)

The casual, witty, and sometimes provocative style in which the book is written provides a very apt vehicle for this very personal account.--Tim William Machan"Journal of English and Germanic Philology" (01/01/0001)

Written with real authority, enthusiasm, and love for our unruly and exquisite language.--Michael Dirda"The Washington Post" (01/01/0001)

"The casual, witty, and sometimes provocative style in which the book is written provides a very apt vehicle for this very personal account." -- Tim William Machan, "Journal of English and Germanic Philology"

"Nonspecialists will join scholars in praising this remarkable linguistic investigation." -- Bryce Christensen, "Booklist"

"An unusual linguistic and literary feast." -- Anne Curzan, "Michigan Quarterly Review"

"Erudite and accessible. [Lerer] brings both love and rigour to his subject." -- Gale ZoA Garnett, "Globe & Mail"

"The book percolates with creative energy and will please anyone intrigued by how our richly variegated language came to be." -- "Publishers Weekly"

"This absorbing book provides sufficient information about linguistics and early English language and literature for clarification... Essential." -- "Choice"

"Fun and illuminating." -- Carol White, "The Main Artery"

" "Inventing English" is an invigorating read for the mind and the mouth." -- "Bloomsbury Review"

"A fresh look at the history of the English language." -- Cynthia Lee Katona, "Magill Book Reviews"

"[An] elegant book." -- Karenn Krangle, "Vancouver Sun"

"A personal, selective and impassioned journey through the history of English." -- "Times Higher Education Supplement"

"Lerer not only navigates the shifting currents and boiling rapids of English, but also explores its secret coves." -- Rob Kyff, "Advocate"

"[An] elegant book." -- Karenn Krangle, "Vancouver Sun"

"A personal, selective and impassioned journey through the history of English." -- "Times Higher Education Supplement"

"Lerer not only navigates the shifting currents and boiling rapids of English, but also explores its secret coves." -- Rob Kyff, "Advocate"

"A wonderful book. It's not hard to find well-informed books about the history of the English language, and it's not hard to find good critical accounts of English literature, but to have the two intertwined in one book is remarkable." -- "Language Hat"

"An important and valuable source for anyone who loves the English language, and language in general." -- Gale Zoe Garnett, "Toronto Globe & Mail"

"Interesting and informative." -- Tom Oleson, "Winnipeg Free Press"

"Nonspecialists will join scholars in praising this remarkable linguistic investigation." -- Bryce Chrstensen, "Booklist"

"The book percolates with creative energy and will please anyone intrigued by how our richly variegated language came to be." -- "Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)"

"Written with real authority, enthusiasm, and love for our unruly and exquisite language." -- Michael Dirda, "The Washington Post"

"A wonderful book. It's not hard to find well-informed books about the history of the English language, and it's not hard to find good critical accounts of English literature, but to have the two intertwined in one book is remarkable." -- Language Hat

"An important and valuable source for anyone who loves the English language, and language in general." -- Gale Zoe Garnett, Toronto Globe & Mail

"Interesting and informative." -- Tom Oleson, Winnipeg Free Press

"Written with real authority, enthusiasm, and love for our unruly and exquisite language." -- Michael Dirda, The Washington Post

"A wonderful book. It's not hard to find well-informed books about the history of the English language, and it's not hard to find good critical accounts of English literature, but to have the two intertwined in one book is remarkable." -- "Language Hat"

"An important and valuable source for anyone who loves the English language, and language in general." -- Gale Zoe Garnett, "Toronto Globe & Mail"

"Interesting and informative." -- Tom Oleson, "Winnipeg Free Press"

"Written with real authority, enthusiasm, and love for our unruly and exquisite language." -- Michael Dirda, "The Washington Post"

About the Author

Seth Lerer is Distinguished Professor of Literature and the former Dean of Arts and Humanities at the University of California, San Diego. He is known nationally for his audio and videotape series, The History of the English Language, for the Teaching Company.