num_pages: 304
description: A Los Angeles Times Favorite Book of the YearIn 1746, Samuel Johnson undertook the Herculean task of writing the first comprehensive English dictionary. Imagining he could complete the job in three years, Johnson in fact took more than eight, and the dictionary itself turned out to be as much a work of literature as it was an invaluable reference. In alphabetized chapters, from "Adventurous" to "Zootomy," Henry Hitchings tells of Johnson's toil and triumph and offers a closer look at the definitions themselves, which were alive with invention, poetry, erudition, and, at times, hilarious imprecision. The story of Johnson's adventure into the essence of words is an entertainment that "sparkles on every page" ( The Philadelphia Inquirer ).
language: English
title: Defining the World: The Extraordinary Story of Dr Johnson’s Dictionary
titlecomplete: Defining the World: The Extraordinary Story of Dr Johnson’s Dictionary
genres: Language, Biography, Historical, Literary Fiction, Writing, Linguistics, British Literature, Nonfiction, History, Books About Books
ratings_count: 260
publisher: Picador