A history of English in its own words

Language not only defines the way we express ourselves, but also shapes the way we think. Here is a unique look at the English language, combining an informal narrative of the history of the language with a collection of more than 750 word histories, arranged chronologically in six chapters corresponding to the generally accepted "periods" in the development of English. They tell intriguing and insightful stories of the life and times of each period, full of interesting details, odd facts and colorful anecdotes that pepper the history of our language and civilization.--From publisher description.