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Product Description ------------------- One third of the globe speaks some English. How did it grow into the world's primary language for culture, commerce, and diplomacy? Respected author and broadcaster Melvyn Bragg tracks down the stimulating answers, consulting experts such as Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney and the Royal Shakespeare Company's John Barton. One of the first releases in the new Athena line, this documentary comes packed with extras and provides an authoritative, entertaining experience for lifelong learning. .com ---- The life story of a remarkable language Join Melvyn Bragg and a host of experts as they explore the vibrant 1,500-year history of the English language. How did it grow from a relatively insignificant Germanic dialect to become the premier language of culture, commerce, and diplomacy around the globe? The answer involves bloody conquest, political intrigue, and plenty of creativity. Renowned authorities such as Nobel Prize-winning poet Seamus Heaney, cofounder of the Royal Shakespeare Company John Barton, and Elizabethan scholar Katherine Duncan-Jones explain the development of English in entertaining detail. In this fascinating, eight-part documentary, Bragg and his colleagues examine the life of the language, showing how diverse forces--from Beowulf to the Bible, from Shakespeare to American slang--shaped the way we communicate today. BONUS FEATURES * 20-page viewer’s guide includes key points, discussion questions, avenues for further learning, "The Evolution of the English Alphabet" essay, and more. * "Architects of the Language" biographies * Exclusive web extras A prolific author, screenwriter, and broadcaster, Melvyn Bragg serves as president of Great Britain’s National Campaign for the Arts and chair of the Arts Council Literature Panel. He has hosted The South Bank Show, Britain’s leading arts program, for over 30 years. View an Excerpt from the Guide Included with The Adventure of English The Adventure of English ( https://images-na.ssl-images-.com/images/G/01/dvd/acorn/Adv_English_2pgExcerpt.pdf ) ( ../gp/browse.html?node=1240753011 ) P.when('A').execute(function(A) { A.on('a:expander:toggle_description:toggle:collapse', function(data) { window.scroll(0, data.expander.$expander[0].offsetTop-100); }); }); Review ------ It's high-minded and educational, but brings its lessons down to earth and can even be fun. -- DVD Verdict See more ( javascript:void(0) )