Publisher:[Silver Spring, Md.] : Athena, [2009]
Edition:Widescreen edition.
Copyright Date:©2009
ISBN: 9781598282207
Characteristics: 4 videodiscs (405 min.) :,sound, black & white ;,4 3/4 in. +,1 booklet.
This is an absolutely fascinating look at the history of the English language and how it developed over the last 1500 years from its roots into the language as we hear and use it today. The host Melvyn Bragg asks and answered questions such as where did English start, how did it grow, what were it's influences, and what hampered its development.
A unique feature of this series is actually hearing scholars speaking Old English, and other versions of the language as it developed and changed over the centuries.
Mr. Bragg has written a book under a similar title "The Adventure of English: The Biography of a Language" which while not listed as a companion to the video series sounds like it would make an excellent read, and if I can obtain a copy of it I will review it here as well.
