The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English...

The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary ... | Simon Winchester | A Fever in the Brain

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The Professor and ...

	The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary ... Simon Winchester Harper Perennial, 2005 - 288 pages average customer review:based on 413 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

"There was something wildly wrong with his brain..."

The focus of Simon Winchester's book is the contribution that Dr. William Chester Minor (of the "wildly wrong" brain above) made to the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary. He made his contribution from the confines of his cell at Broadmoor, the 19th centuray equivalent of a modern mental health institution. From that cell, and in correspondence with Professor James Murray, Dr. Minor supplied more entries to the OED than virtually anyone else in its volunteer army. Winchester's tale is well-told and scupulously researched. Indeed, he corrects the historical record as to the first meeting between Minor and Murray. Moreover, Winchester is to be applauded for recognizing that Minor's victim, whom Minor shot down in cold blood during one of his delusional episodes, ultimately merits recognition for inadvertently allowing the OED to benefit from Dr. Minor's work. A fascinating story that provides insights into society, mental illness and scholarship during the creation of one of the great achievements of civilization in the west.

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A Fever in the Brain

How many times have you picked up a dictionary and thought to yourself how boring a book it seems to be?

Well, you may be surprised to learn that the story of how the original Oxford English Dictionary came into being has all of the same dark and fascinating charm of a Victorian gothic novel.

This is a fast paced and exciting story with a real twist at the end.

Curt Rowlett,
Author of Labyrinth13

Symbiotic Syncopation

There is an other-worldly quality to Winchester's yarn about the professor and the mad medical doctor.

First, we have their obsessive natures, both eager to probe the meanings of words for decades. Just imagine the power of their attention spans.

Second, we have the serendipity of their collaboration, both so polite, so professional, so intense.

Third, we have the Oxford English Dictionary itself, so monumental, so damned accurate and thorough.

Finally, we have Simon Winchester himself, so profoundly focused, so humorous and tidy, so willing to make this tale such an enjoyable read.

Yes, other-worldly, the way he allows us to enter this, mostly, Victorian world and come away with a better understanding of scholarship, madness and, even, friendship. Quite a feat!

by Larry Rochelle, author of HOME SCHOOLED, MOODY BLUE and I GOT DA EVER LOVIN' KC BLUES.

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good mystery

This is a good mystery story but make sure your vocabulary is up to snuff or it will make for difficult reading and several trips to the dictionary.

reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, page 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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