Made in America An Informal History of the English Language in the United States

Bill Bryson

ISBN 10: 068810312X / ISBN 13: 9780688103125

Published by William Morrow and Company, Inc., 1995

About this Item

Seller Inventory # 040124B4B5413F1

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Made in America An Informal History of the English Language in the United States
• Publisher: William Morrow and Company, Inc.
• Publication Date: 1995
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 068810312X
• ISBN 13: 9780688103125
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: Very Good

About this title

Synopsis

The author of Mother Tongue offers an affectionate and informative look at the origins of American English, including why strippers' apparel is called a G-string and what--or who--is the real McCoy. 75,000 first printing. $75,000 ad/promo. Tour.

Reviews

Journalist Bryson (Mother Tongue, Morrow, 1990) presents an engagingly written chronological history of the United States, focusing on popular culture and language. Along the way, he attempts to explain why American English is the way it is-why Americans paint the town red, talk turkey, keep a stiff upper lip, etc. He puts individual words and expressions in their social context as well as presenting well-researched and thoughtful discussions of our discovery and colonization of the New World, the writing of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, westward expansion, the age of invention and industrialization, modern politics and war, popular culture, and the current state of American English. This is a page-turning trip across linguistic America that takes many deliciously discursive side trips. For Bryson's wonderfully sane and reasoned discussion of the issues surrounding "politically correct" language alone, this book is a worthwhile read. Highly recommended for collections large and small.
Paul D'Alessandro, Portland P.L., Me.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.