Professor and The Madman, The : Unabridged

Rating:
Summary: An Intellectual Treat
Review: Winchester has the remarkable ability to turn a seemingly dull topic, such as the creation of the OED, into a compelling tale of lunacy and letters.

Having read the footnote in Jonathan Green's, Chasing the Sun, regarding the "American lunatic murderer who was imprisoned in Braodmore and became a prolific contributer to the OED," Winchester embarked on a esoteric research odyessy covering both England and the United States. What unfolded was a remarkable story of one man's insanity and another's passion for capturing the entire history of the English language on the printed page.

Dr. W.C. Minor, the "American lunatic" was a highly educated Civil War veteran suffering from schizophrenia. While living in England in an attempt to escape his ever-present feelings of persecution, he shot a man dead. Being obviously deluded, the British government sentenced him to an unspecified term in Broadmore lunatic asylum.

His counter-point, Professor James Murray, then editor of the OED, sent out a request for all men and women of letters to contribute definitions and quotations to the compilation of the dictionary. What unfolded was a relationship spanning over twenty years between The Professor and the Madman.

Winchester creates three distinct and affecting personalities, all of which compliment each outher beautifuly: Dr. Minor, Prof. Murray, and quite interestingly, the OED takes on an almost human quality. It is Winchester's skill at blending these three unique personalities and they become interlaced that keeps the reader turning the page. Indeed, a wonderful and absorbing book.