一本工具書的誕生，打開世界史的一頁，也吹響人類文明的號角奧立佛‧薩克斯（Oliver Sacks）盛讚：令人著迷又感動，作者以出色文筆重建了不可思議的故事……從本書可以看出，即使患有嚴重、無助的精神病，透過工作與關愛也能找到救贖的可能。歷史的幽暗處，封存逾百年的機密檔案，即將在世人面前揭開真相！因戰爭發瘋殺人的軍醫，靠自學成功的天才教授，結下不為人知的奇緣合作完成人類文明史上最龐大的字典，塑造了現代文學史上最神祕、詭奇與悲慘的軼事英國《泰晤士報》、美國《紐約時報》暢銷排行榜第一名《不平靜的太平洋》作者溫契斯特長銷經典之作原著改編電影即將上映，梅爾吉勃遜監製、主演，首度與西恩潘合作胡川安（「故事：寫給所有人的歷史」網站主編）專文導讀，張鐵志（政治與文化評論家）、陳光興（《Inter-Asia Cultural Studies: Movement》與《人間思想》期刊主編）、蔣竹山（東華大學歷史系副教授）感動推薦！《牛津英文大字典》的編纂功臣，為何是發瘋的軍醫，而且還是一名殺人犯！為什麼他會變成瘋子？為什麼他會殺人？背後有什麼不可告人知的可怕經歷？《牛津英文大字典》是有史以來最重要的工具書，一部令人驚嘆的偉大巨構。一位負責字典編輯的教授，廣徵各地對英語字源有研究、感興趣的義工，耗費七十年的韶光編纂、搜羅四十多萬條字辭解釋的大字典，全書字串相連可以繞地球百餘圈有餘；背後還藏著一段現代文學史上最神祕、詭奇與悲慘的一段軼事。這不為人知的事件一直深鎖在大英帝國官方機密檔案中，直到《天才、瘋子、大字典家》出版才獲公諸於世。一位退役的美國軍醫麥諾，在倫敦誤殺了一名啤酒廠工人，引起輿論譁然。麥諾因捲入血腥殘酷的南北戰爭，導致精神失常並出現幻覺，此一殺人案件開啟了他被監禁在精神病院裡的後半生。然而參與《牛津英文大字典》的編纂工作，為她的生命找到了出口。由於麥諾的加入，字典編輯小組獲得一大助力，困難重重的編輯工程得以順利進行。總編輯莫雷博士與麥諾醫師，在魚雁往返之間相識、相知、相惜，卻從來沒有見過面。莫雷博士對這位神祕的醫師深感好奇，決定親自去拜訪他，也揭開麥諾悽楚傳奇的一生。延伸閱讀《不平靜的太平洋》，賽門‧溫契斯特《沖繩走私女王：夏子》，?野修司《歷史不糊塗》，李拯
This etymological tour de force was written by an autodidact who became a world-famous linguist and editor of the Oxford English Dictionary. Deeply educational yet not overwhelming, this compact culmi
The Professor and the Madman, masterfully researched and eloquently written, is an extraordinary tale of madness, genius, and the incredible obsessions of two remarkable men that led to the making of
Mysterious (mistie · ries), a. [f. L. mysterium Mysteryi + ous. Cf. F. mysterieux.] 1. Full of or fraught with mystery; wrapt in mystery; hidden from human knowledge or understanding; impossible or di
The national bestseller that chronicles the fascinating story of two extraordinary men and the making of the Oxford English Dictionary—now available in a limited Olive Edition.“The linguistic detectiv
The Professor and the Madman, masterfully researched and eloquently written, is an extraordinary tale of madness, genius, and the incredible obsessions of two remarkable men that led to the making of
Eighty years ago, the "greatest work in dictionary-making ever undertaken" was completed. And with its enormous range, unparalleled historical depth, detailed etymologies, and inexhaustible supply of
Most people think of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) as a distinctly British product. Begun in England 150 years ago, it took more than 60 years to complete and, when it was finally finished in 1928, the British prime minister heralded it as a 'national treasure'. It maintained this image throughout the twentieth century, and in 2006 the English public voted it an 'Icon of England', alongside Marmite, Buckingham Palace and the bowler hat. However, this book shows that the dictionary is not as 'British' as we all thought. The linguist and lexicographer, Sarah Ogilvie, combines her insider knowledge and experience with impeccable research to show that the OED is in fact an international product in both its content and its making. She examines the policies and practices of the various editors, applies qualitative and quantitative analysis, and finds new OED archival materials in the form of letters, reports and proofs. She demonstrates that the OED, in its use of readers from all over
Most people think of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) as a distinctly British product. Begun in England 150 years ago, it took more than 60 years to complete and, when it was finally finished in 1928, the British prime minister heralded it as a 'national treasure'. It maintained this image throughout the twentieth century, and in 2006 the English public voted it an 'Icon of England', alongside Marmite, Buckingham Palace and the bowler hat. However, this book shows that the dictionary is not as 'British' as we all thought. The linguist and lexicographer, Sarah Ogilvie, combines her insider knowledge and experience with impeccable research to show that the OED is in fact an international product in both its content and its making. She examines the policies and practices of the various editors, applies qualitative and quantitative analysis, and finds new OED archival materials in the form of letters, reports and proofs. She demonstrates that the OED, in its use of readers from all over
