The Adventure of English

The Biography of a Language

By: Melvyn Bragg

Narrated by: Robert Powell

Length: 12 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

This is the remarkable story of the English language; from its beginnings as a minor guttural Germanic dialect to its position today as a truly established global language.

The Adventure of English is not only an enthralling story of power, religion, and trade, but also the story of people, and how their lives continue to change the extraordinary language that is English.

©2003 Melvyn Bragg (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Both entertaining and informative." (Booklist)
"This 'biography' succeeds in its broad, sweeping narrative." (Publishers Weekly)

Awesome

History and writers will absoultly enjoy this book. The narrator is also worth mentioning, as he lends a fun and witty aspect to the book. If you love history or just love to write, this book is for you

So that's why.

If you have ever wondered why we speak the way we do, why the rules of English grammar make so little sense and where all of those place names and expressions come from, then this book is for you. Not too many years ago, I would have instinctively rebelled against something called "The Adventure of English," assuming it either too cute to have any substance or yet another dry academic work read only by English Lit. grad students looking for a way to avoid working on their thesis. Rather, this is powerful history on a topic largely ignored by more generic works. It examines a the evolution of the language by both cataclysmic events like invasion and slower processes like the rise of international commerce and colonialism. Then it connects them to pieces of the language that I, as a semi-educated speaker of American English, hear and speak every day.

History class should have been like this!

As an English speaker, I have always been interested in the path that this language took in it's development. The Adventure of English is a wonderful historical tracing of the lineage of a remarkable language. This work shows how historical facts intertwine with each other, and how that, in the case of English, the very language defined a people, shaped a culture, and preserved a nation. A great Audiobook - both enlightening and entertaining.

Worth the listen

This was both a good and not so good book to listen to. The not so good first. There are so many words in the book that I probably forget most of them. Thus having a printed copy would be a great thing. The good. The reader pronounces all these words fantastic, something I could never have down with only the printed words in front of me. There were many items about the english language I never realized. There are many items about english as it is evolving in my liftime that I now have a new appreciation for.

Informative and entertaining

Goes far beyond the usual textbook renderings to bring the history of the language alive

This explains a lot :-)

Easy and enjoyable history of the English language with examples, translations and historical events given to explain how melting pot of the English language arrived at its current states. And yes, I mean states.

To hear old English in this form --- Very nice.

What made the experience of listening to The Adventure of English the most enjoyable?

The narrator is well chosen. Both the well known and obscure portions of the Adventure of my native tongue are so well presented that it is Very Nice indeed.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

There are conversational situations where perhaps a second narrator or conversational partner might have added just a bit.

What does Robert Powell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The narrators accent and diction seem to enhance and further illuminate the Adventure. Especially regarding those old English phrases from the early writers and influences.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

This book is just too comprehensive for a single sitting; and though enjoyable there are saturation points one reaches. The return is welcome and friendly.

Any additional comments?

a truly good listen

Robert Powell the narrator earns highest honors

The author owes Robert Powell a debt of gratitude for raising an outstanding work to the highest level of enjoyment with beautifully rendered accents throughout this very fine work.

Wrong Medium

What did you like best about The Adventure of English? What did you like least?

The subject fascinates me, but it does not lend itself to the audio book format. It would be better to buy the book to see and become more intimate with the words.

English, what an adventure!

I could not stop listening. I think I will listen to this many times over. Great book, great idea, great narration!