the book takes us through the making of the OED and the role that was played by one remarkable man- dr william chester minor. dr w c minor was an american in london, visiting england in order to quiet a mind that had become inflamed and who had taken voluntary retirement from the US army on grounds of ill health. he shot to fame in 1872 in london, when he was arrested for the murder of george merrett at lambeth marsh. he was tried, found guilty and sentenced to be held in permanent custody at the newly built showpiece of the british criminal justice system - broadmoor, as a certified criminal lunatic. dr minor was thirty seven years old.
dr murray was the editor of the OED and met dr minor - his most prolific contributor for twenty years, for the first time in 1896.
the events which led to dr minor becoming a lunatic makes a major part of the narrative and is as fascinating to read as the making of the OED itself. both have such dramatic events that it is difficult to say which is a better tale- the madness of dr minor or the passion which went into the making of the OED.
a slim volume, amazingly researched, and an elegantly told tale by simon winchester.
