The Dictionary People

Marvellous… An unmissable, wonderful achievement -- Stephen Fry Proof that not only do our words have extraordinary lives, but so do the people who have documented them for us. A lively, entertaining, and illuminating read. I loved it -- Susie Dent Utterly fascinating, entertaining, astonishing and as clever as a box of monkeys... I am bowled over by Sarah Ogilvie's book and every home should have a copy. I completely love it * Joanna Lumley * Astonishing * Kathryn Hughes, The Sunday Times * Who knew such mysteries lay behind the Oxford English Dictionary? This is a fascinating, unique and original book which uncovers the people behind the words. A jaw-dropping cross-section of society are revealed for the first time in all their complexity * Janina Ramirez, author of Femina * Fascinating * Observer * Exquisitely written ... A lively, funny book full of eccentrics * Jamaica Kincaid * The Dictionary People is a fascinating read for anyone with an interest in dictionaries, social history or just people. Sarah Ogilvie has found a great subject and done it justice * Literary Review * Enthralling and exuberant, Sarah Ogilvie tells the surprising story of the making of the OED. Philologists, fantasists, crackpots, criminals, career spinsters, suffragists, and Australians: here is a wonder-book for word-lovers * Jeanette Winterson * The story of the first complete Oxford English Dictionary…and the hundreds of men and women who were instrumental in its creation… Ogilvie does a marvellous job of bringing them all to life… It’s surprisingly moving: I found myself in tears at the end. I think any lover of words would enjoy this as much as I did * Guardian * I love words and I cherish my OED ... having the background of it explained was fascinating * Val McDermid * The OED is an epic, crowdsourced attempt to pin down slippery, evolving language; this book tells the fascinating story of its eclectic and unsung contributors * Financial Times, *Books of the Year* * Not just a comprehensive description of the dictionary, but also a companion to the Victorian intellectual landscape * Times Literary Supplement * 'An erudite and vivid exploration of the origins of the OED in the first crowdsourcing of contributions from thousands of individuals - including murderers, lunatics and cannibals. Marvellous, witty and wholly original' * Alan Rusbridger * Full of determination and eccentricity ... Ogilvie's enthusiasm ... is infectious, and this book is a delight to read * Booklist *