12 Books That Changed the World - Hardcover

Melvyn Bragg

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0340839805 ISBN 13: 9780340839805

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd, 2006

Synopsis

When we think of great events in the history of the world, we tend to think of war, revolution, political upheaval or natural catastrophe. But throughout history there have been moments of vital importance that have taken place not on the battlefield, or in the palaces of power, or even in the violence of nature, but between the pages of a book. In his fascinating new book accompanying the ITV series, Melvyn Bragg presents a vivid reminder of the book as agent of social, political and personal revolution. Twelve Books that Changed the World "presents a rich variety of human endeavour and a great diversity of characters. Here are famous books by Darwin, Newton and Shakespeare - but we also discover the stories behind some less well-known works, such as Marie Stopes' Married Love", the original radical feminist Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Woman" - and even the rules to an obscure ball game that became the most popular sport in the world ...

About this title

About the Author

Melvyn Bragg's first novel, For Want of a Nail, was published in 1965 and since then his novels have included The Hired Man, for which he won the Time/Life Silver Pen Award, Without a City Wall, winner of the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize, Credo and The Soldier's Return, which won the WHSmith Literary Award. He has also written several works of non-fiction including Speak for England, Rich and On Giants' Shoulders. He is controller of Arts at LWT and President of the National Campaign for the Arts, and in 1998 he was made a life peer. He lives in London and Cumbria.

Review

"'Melvyn Bragg's superb new history of the English language is told as an adventure story, and rightly so. There is much splendid intellectual firepower in this book.' - Andrew Roberts, Spectator 'Excellent... always readable, often thought-provoking, and consistently entertaining.' - Independent 'Bragg's approachable account...gleams with little gems. His enthusiasm is appealing...he digs beneath modernity and examines our bedrock with a sympathetic eye. It has power and clarity...this adventure is rewarding.' - Sunday Herald 'This is a highly readable, jargon-free treatise on a notoriously prickly subject. Bragg's affection for his subject is infectious. In this he successfully joins a long tradition of gentleman enthusiasts from peppery Dr Johnson to genial James Murray.' - Observer"

Edition details

• Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0340839805
• ISBN 13: 9780340839805
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 300