The story follows the monumental task of compiling the first edition of the OED, a project that took 70 years to complete. It centers on two main figures:
A self-taught Scottish linguist and philologist who was appointed editor of the dictionary in 1879. The Professor and the Madman
Facing an overwhelming workload, Murray issued a public call for volunteers to find the origins and usages of words. From his asylum cell, Dr. Minor became the project's most prolific volunteer, submitting more than over 20 years. The Professor and the Madman, by Simon Winchester (2005) The story follows the monumental task of compiling