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The Dictionary People: The Unsung Heroes Who Created the Oxford English Dictionary by Sarah Ogilvie
stephanielass's review
funny
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
2.25
This would have a higher rating if the chapter dedicated to queer contributors to the dictionary wasn't solely focused on an incestuous aunt/niece couple.
tasmanian_bibliophile's review
4.25
‘It was in a hidden corner of the Oxford University Press basement, where the Dictionary’s archive is stored, that I opened a dusty box and came across a small black book tied with cream ribbon.’
As I read this, I could just imagine how exciting it would be to make such a discovery. I’ve read a bit about the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), but never really stopped to think about the contributors.
‘When I opened it, the first thing that struck me was the immaculate cursive handwriting. I recognised it as the familiar hand of James Murray.
He had written the names and addresses of not just hundreds but thousands of people who had volunteered to contribute to the Dictionary.
Finding Dr Murray’s address book was one of those moments when everything goes into slow motion.’
Ms Ogilvie takes the reader on a trip through contributors, working through the alphabet from ‘A for Archaeologist’ to ‘Z for Zealots’. Each chapter contained snippets of information about some of the contributors. At the end, under the heading of ‘Further Reading’, I came across some other books to add to my reading list as well as a couple I have read.
‘I expected more famous names in the address books. Instead, the Dictionary was largely a project of the crowd, the autodidacts, the unknowns.’
I found it fascinating to read about both the processes followed by Dr Murray and his team, and the lives of some of those who contributed to the OED. An amazing achievement! I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the English language and the people behind the OED.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
readingrara's review
informative
medium-paced
4.0
The character's who compiled the dictionary. Who knew?