The Professor and the Madman: A Tale Of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary Paperback – 1 July 2005

I read this book some years ago now whilst staying with friends in Germany. The book is so fascinating that I have never forgotten it and, eventually wished to renew my acquaintance with the detail once again. Sure enough, I was as transfixed with it as I was the first time. A tale of tragedy incorporated with the enormous task of putting together our very first Oxford English Dictionary.There had been other dictionaries before of course, but this proved to be the definitive.Simon Winchester is a 'past-master' of research and story telling that makes you keep turning pages until well in to the late evening.Derrick Orton

The Professor and the Madman tells the story of Dr W.C. Minor, a Victorian murderer who became one of the most important contributors to the Oxford English Dictionary, posting his work to the editor of that dictionary from his cells in Broadmoor. Minor was spared the noose after the court had decided - rightly - that he was insane.Winchester's book has been criticised on two grounds. First, that the basic story is rather thin for book length treatment and has been extended by means of background material, ornate physical descriptions and so on. Second, that the boundary between fact and fiction is not clear.As for the first charge, it's true that the story is developed at a slow and careful pace, but the background material is compelling. Thus we learn about the enlightened treatment of the insane in the English criminal justice system, the brutal punishments in use in the American Civil War (including branding), the history of dictionary making, the categorisation of mental illness.On the charge of fictionalisation, Winchester should I think be acquitted - for example he rejects the attractive (but untrue) tale that the editor of the OED, James Murray, only found out about Minor's situation when he went to visit him at Broadmoor. Where Winchester is speculating, as for example on the question of what triggered Minor's insanity, this is made clear.The audiobook consists of an unabridged reading by Winchester himself. It is in general very well done. Perhaps it was a mistake to attempt a Scottish accent when recounting the words of James Murray - Winchester's effort at Border Scots is not much better than Dick van Dyke's characterisation of the cockney. But the normal reading voice is a pleasant Oxford English.

Great book! Was recommended to me and a very engaging read. I loved the feel of this publication, it felt lovely in my hands, I want all books to feel like this! Maybe because it was published abroad?I had never heard of the story before so I was quite surprised it was not more well known, so interesting! Worth reading!

The present book was written in approximately 1998, but now it has a competitor. "The Meaning of Everything" was just recently published in 2003 by the same author Simon Winchester. So Winchester now has two books on the subject, and the newer book is much better than the book being reviewed here.Simon Winchester is a gifted writer. The first book "Professor and the Madman" reads like a fast paced novel and that is why it has been popular and got a 5 star rating. Having said that it was just an introduction to the writing of the monumental work of the original Oxford English Dictionary (OED). The original OED is not to be confused with an Oxford dictionary found at a modern bookstore. The original OED is a series of volumes that gives many quotes for each and every word to show how the word is used. Starting with the letter "A" it took a remarkable 70 years to complete the final volume that included the letter "Z". It was started from first concept in 1857 and went on until it was completed with the final tenth volume in 1928.One of the prime movers of that book was James Murray who started at the beginning in 1878. Prior to that date, nothing of practical value was done between 1857 and 1878. He was in essence the first editor (technically the thrird), and he edited the dictionary up to the volume ending with the letter T - the degree of the progress of the dictionary at his death in 1915.When Murray started his work around 1878-79 the group at Oxford sent out advertisements to solicit readers who might be able to send words with accompanying quotations - the basic format of the dictionary. They knew they needed help from the public and that was their technique to speed up the work. The group at Oxford largely concentrated on editing, checking and compiling the quotes and words. Many people sent in quotes including one individual from an individual in a home for the criminally insane - who happened to collect and read old books.This first book by Winchester largely deals with this interesting character who had responded to these advertisements in 1879-80 and sent in words and quotations. He was an American Dr. William Minor (MD) from Connecticut who had been committed to a mental hospital located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, one hour by train from Oxford. In some ways it is too much information about this man - my opinion. It is interesting to a point but again I think there is too much information on this person - which I will not repeat here. Some of it is to say the least - unsettling - to know the grimy details of his mental illness - schizophrenia.The first book was written in approximately 1998. The span of time has given the author the opportunity to present a better package of ideas.I bought both books by Winchester but in retrospect would have skipped the first book and just bought the newer book. The newer book has one chapter on Dr. Minor - which for me is enough.So skip this book just by the new one.My humble opinion.Jack in Toronto

Excellent story and well researched and written. A must for lovers of history, fact and the English language.

An interesting true story well told. Though there were some strangenesses in my edition, like phrases repeated on two close pages with only slight changes in wording. And it was a bit inhuman of Winchester to say we should be grateful for the tragedy of the murdered and the murderer else the OED would have been less good. I'm not willing to sacrifice two lives for a dictionary...

I thought this book was fabulous, and have ordered another copy for my daughter's birthday. Absolutely fascinating, especially, for lovers of words and literatutre, and my daughter and I are.

It is very good reading. I liked it very much and I gave it to my best friend.