A History of the English Language in 100 Places

A joyous ride through time, where readers can criss-cross the British Isles and the world at large to land in 100 contrasting places and light on 100 wonderful topics that bring the extraordinary story of the English language alive

Any selection of places is inevitably personal. Nevertheless, a number of criteria have directed the selection process in this book. Some places represent historic firsts, some are tied to significant people, and some have seen events that have shaped the future of English. Each one takes the reader on an unmissable journey into the rich past of the English tongue. What began as the language of the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes on a small island has become a global property owned and shaped by almost 2 billion English speakers across the world. English has borrowed words from more than 350 languages, and many more languages have borrowed words from English. In an age of cheap air travel and internet communication we have become a global village. If you’ve ever been curious about the global language that binds us all together, this book is for you.

Bill Lucas is the author of more than 40 books including Boost Your Brain Power Week by Week. Christopher Mulvey is the author of Transatlantic Manners. He has received awards from the Arts and Humanities Council, the British Academy, and the University of Virginia. He was President of the Collegium for African American Research from 2003 to 2007. David Crystal is a linguist, academic, and author, whose books include How Language Works, Shakespeare's Words, and The Stories of English.