Ralph Waldo Emerson once remarked of English that it is 'the sea which receives tributaries from every region under heaven.'

The English language is certainly a sea of words and constructs which has been fed into by almost every major language and ethnic tradition in the world. English began as a hodge-podge of languages, never pretending to the 'purity' of more continental or extra-European languages (which, by the by, were never quite as pure as they like to assume).

The book 'The Story of English', as a companion piece to accompany the PBS-produced series of the same name, hosted by Robert MacNeil, late of the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour, is an articulate, engaging, wide-ranging and fair exposition of an ordinarily difficult and dry subject.

The study of English is difficult on several levels. 'Until the invention of the gramophone and the tape-recorder there was no reliable way of examining everyday speech.' What did English sound like 200 years ago, or 400 years ago? 'English is--and has always been--in a state of ungovernable change, and the limits of scholarship are demonstrated by phrases like the famous 'Great Vowel Shift', hardly more informative than the 'unknown land' of early cartography.'

Of course, written language has until modern times been the limited and limiting commodity of a very small minority of people. The balance between the written and spoken language has a variable history, which can still be seen today (compare the writing of the New York Times against the speech patterns and vocabulary choices of any dozen persons you will find on the street in New York City, and this divergence will be readily apparent).

English has many varieties, and this book explores many of them, explaining that the writings and speech-patterns we see and hear as being foreign are actually English variants with a pedigree as strong as any Oxford University Press book would carry. From the Scots language which migrated to the Appalachian mountains to the Aussie languages adapted to Pacific Islands, to the ever-changing barrow speech of inner London, English speakers have a wide variety of possibilities that no one is truly master of all the language.

'If our approach seems more journalistic than scholastic, we felt this was appropriate for a subject that, unlike many academic studies, is both popular and newsworthy. Hardly a week goes by without a news story, often on the front page, devoted to some aspect of English: the 'decline' of standards; the perils and hilarities of Franglais or Japlish; the adoption of English as a 'national' language by another Third World county.'

English is, for international trade and commerce, for travel, for science and most areas of major scholarship, and many other groupings, the language not only of preference, but of required discourse.

In trying to find the length and breadth of English infusion into the world, past and present, MacNeil and primary authors Robert McCrum and William Cran have produced an engaging history, literary survey, sociology, and etymological joyride. By no means, however, are the major streams of English overlooked in favour of the minor tributaries--Shakespeare warrants most of his own chapter, as is perhaps fitting for the most linguistically-influential of all English speakers in history.

Of course, about this same time, the Authorised Version of the Holy Bible (better known as the King James Version) was also produced, with its own particular genius of language. 'It's an interesting reflection on the state of the language that the poetry of the Authorised Version came not from a single writer but a committee.'

There is a substantial difference in aspect of these two works -- whereas Shakespeare had a huge vocabulary, with no fear of coining new words and terms to suit his need, the King James Bible uses a mere 8000 words, making it generally acceptable to the everyman of the day. 'From that day to this, the Shakespearian cornucopia and the biblical iron rations represent, as it were, the North and South Poles of the language, reference points for writers and speakers throughout the world, from the Shakespearian splendour of a Joyce or Dickens to the biblical rigour of a Bunyan, or a Hemingway.'

From Scots to Anglesey, from the Bayou to the Barrier Reef, English is destined to be a, if not the, dominant linguistic force in the world for some time to come, particularly as the internet, the vast global communication network, is top-heavy with English, albeit an ever changing variety.

Revel in the glories of the English language, and seek out this fun book. Everyone will find something new.

After watching the series it is fun to see the information in print.

Just about everything you ever wanted to know about the English Language is in this book. There are newer and older references but none so complete and at the same time readable. This book covers history, usage, almost usage and possible futures of the language.

One of my favorite antidotes was the one about how the Advisory Committee on Spoken English (ACSE) discussed the word "canine":

"Shaw brought up the word 'canine', and he wanted the recommendation to be 'cay-nine'... And somebody said 'Mr. Shaw, Mr. Chairman, I don't know why you bring this up, of course it's 'ca-nine'. Shaw said, 'I always pronounce things the way they are pronounced by people who use the word professionally every day.' And he said, 'My dentist always says (cay-nine)'. And somebody said, 'Well, in that case, Mr. Chairman, you must have an American dentist.' And he said, 'Of course, why do you think at 76 I have all my teeth!'"

After reading about how English came about, the next book to read would be "Divided by a Common Language" by Christopher Davies, Jason Murphy

I read this book back in my 'English Conversation Teacher' days in Japan. Having been embrassed one to many times by students having to lecture me, their teacher, on the history of English, I figured I should do some 'catch-up reading.' I asked around for suggestions and was recommended 'The Story of English'.

It is free of the linguistic jargon most general readers would find pedantic, and although it is aimed at the general reader it is never condescending. The first half of the book explains the historical development of English while the second half focues on modern English.

Most refreshing though, is that it is free of the triumphalism found in many books of this kind. Reflecting the demographic reality of English today, it gives even-handed attention to the many contemporary varieties of English spoken around the world in places such as North America, Singapore, India, the Anglophone West Indies, and so on.

'The Story of English' is best suited to those who are curious about the origins as well as the future of English, and who want an easy-to-understand introduction to the subject.

I love all the John Sanford Prey Books. They keep you reading and on the edge of your seat, Lucas Davenport is someone I would want on my side.

I'm collecting all the hard backs, and love to get the three in one books.

Excellent purchase, spent days reading about Davenport and crew. You can't co wrong purchasing this collection, genually entertaining and well worth the price.

Major John Sanford fan - so far in the "Prey" series, I would have to say that "Mind Prey" was by far the most suspenseful and enjoyable of the books. John Sanford keeps the pace going throughout the entire book (3-in-1 here). Wish there were more books printed with more than 1 story in it. Excellent bargain.

for religious seekers, those curious about spiritual
matters, those interested in Florida's history and
any with a mind to understand religious communities,
this book is a MUST read. The varied articles are
revealing, stimulating, fascinating, well-written,
with marvellous footnotes and bibliography. Oh, if
all university, edited publications could be so good.
If this ever makes it to a reprint or paperback,
more varied and colour photos would just be the icing on the cake.

Hi, I am Ian Guthrie, nephew of the late John J. Guthrie Jr. I have read this book, i even did a report relating to the occurences and information in it. it is a great text, and it is soooooo good. and my uncle john was a great man. so i would highly reccomend this to people of all ages and all interest. Thanks. -ian

At the start i was a little board but then i relised that it was a very poor novel and i placed it in the fire!

As a young girl I was totally fascinated by paper dolls. Not only did I buy all those that came out, but I made my own also. A big favorite of mine was Katy Keene, the comic book fashion model. Imagine how thrilled I was to find reproductions of this very popular paper doll. The cut-outs are faithful to the original. Even if you are too young to remember Katy, you will love her. She was the Barbie of my day. This is a small price to pay for hours of fun for you or your daughter.

This is an extraordinarily valuable book for anyone interested in muscle physiology, kinesiology and electromyography.

It is the most comprehensive book ever produced on the physiology, research and application of sEMG.

The author John Basmajian founded the International Society of Electromyography and Kinesiology (ISEK)and about five other professional biomedical societies as well.

Basmajian's pioneering work with sEMG and with EMG biofeedback dates back to the late fifties and his early work with iEMG (intramuscular or needle) EMG was published in Science magazine.
Carlo DeLuca is a brilliant researcher, one of the world's current leaders in the field, now that Basmajian has attained Emeritus status (McMaster University.)

If you work with pain, physical therapy, physiatry, biofeedback, kinesiology, you can't go wrong with this book. I've heard that a new edition is in the works.

Basmajian also did a classic biofeedback book as well.

As a nursing clinical coordinator of a dual diagnosis program here in Miami, Florida I would purchase this book again. Initially I balked at the high price for such a physically small book. Later when I was able to immediately begin utilizing separate chapters in my educational groups my patients loved the material presented. Most therapy book are either dry with too many nonessential facts to provide for intresting readying. I did not find that true with this excellent reference tool.

Silent Prey - I rated this book 3 stars. Lucas Davenport travels to New York to help capture the escapes murderer from Eyes of Prey (third in the series) and to help former a love interest weed out vigilante cops from the NYPD. This effort falls a little short in comparison to the other Prey novels, but it is very entertaining. And, yes, Lucas hooks up with another woman in this book too. Maybe he is irresistible.

Winter Prey - In his fifth Prey book, some local cops from a small community call upon Lucas Davenport to help solve the murder of a young couple. What he finds is a new love interest, in the form of an attractive medical examiner, and a ring of child molesters. Like Eyes of Prey, this book also has a suprise revelation that keeps you guessing until the end. I rated this book 4 stars.

Night Prey - I rated this book 5 stars. Lucas davenport finds his way back onto the Minneapolis police force as a political appointee. Now he has to team with a dying investigator from the BCA to catch a serial killer, who has escalated from one murder per year to a virtual killing spree. This book is also fulfilling if you have read the other Prey books, because Lucas' love life starts to stabilize, and we see him grow as a man in love.

Read these books, and keep reading the Prey series.

I have all the prey series and continue to be impressed with the details of Sandford's writing and scene-settings. Lucas Davenport is the best loved character I've encountered in any book! Is it possible to get the fourth book of the prey series in hardcover? I look forward to the next one!

Lucas Davenport is the hero for the 90's - and well into the next century!

And now for a public service message:

Want to feel safe tonight, don't make Lucas Davenport mad at you.

I started out with the book "Night Prey". My friendand I were in school, when she told me to read this book when she wasdone. I read it within 36 hours, it was such a page-turner. I then found out that this book was just one in a series of "prey" books by John Sandford. I've read almost all of them, and I'm planning on buying "Certain Prey" from amazon.com soon. The best series that there is. John Sandford is definately my favorite author! He's created such a likable character in Lucas Davenport, and he definately knows how to add in unsuspecting twists and turns to every novel. If you like James Patterson's novels, you'll definately enjoy anything written by John Sandford.

I love these books. Recently read my first Prey book and am hooked!! This is the best one so far in a really great series, so that is saying something! Try to read them in order if you are just starting out on Mr. Sandford series. I love Lucas Davenport... Thanks Mr. Sandford, (aka John Camp) keep up the good work!!

Started with book no. 1 in the Prey series, and have enjoyed every one! I feel like Lucas Davenport is a close family member. I thought Winter Prey was the best so far til I read the next one, Mind Prey. Each Prey book has a totally different scenario of circumstances and bad guy/girl. This makes for a new and exciting read with each book even though Lucas appears in every one. I love following the same hero/heroin in a series. They become familiar to you and you don't want anything to happen to them. Very similar to Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta. Am now reading Sudden Prey and it's great too! Keep them coming Mr. Sandford!

Clara Rinker is back in John Sandford's latest thriller, "Mortal Prey." She is the deadliest female assassin that I have ever encountered in fiction. Not only is Rinker a whiz with firearms, but she can also outmaneuver the FBI and the police with ease.

Rinker has spent a good part of her life killing people for money. After years of plying her trade, she has accumulated more than enough cash to retire and she has decided to settle down in Mexico with the man she loves. However, a sudden act of violence changes Rinker's plans and she is back in the business of killing once again. She decides to take revenge on the people whom she believes ruined her one chance at happiness and the cops are desperate to stop her before she wreaks any further havoc.

The FBI calls in Lucas Davenport, a Deputy Chief in the Minneapolis Police Department, to help track down Rinker. Davenport has dealt with her before and he was lucky to have survived the encounter. Davenport is currently planning his wedding, but he leaves his pregnant fiancée back in Minneapolis and joins in the hunt for Rinker.

"Mortal Prey" is a repetitious series of vignettes in which Rinker plies her trade, always staying one or two steps ahead of the cops. The supposedly skilled team of FBI agents and cops who are after Rinker are completely outmatched by her superhuman intellect and daring. Rinker doesn't come across as a human being. She is a killing machine with ice in her veins. "Mortal Prey" is filled with violent encounters between the killer and her victims and there really is no contest between Rinker and the cops. She is simply too good at what she does. This throws the book way off balance. A good hunter/prey book has a little more balance between the combatants.

The characterizations are thin and the plot veers from one place to another with very little coherence. Davenport is a likeable enough protagonist, but he has very little to do other than try to figure out where and how Rinker will strike next. "Mortal Prey" doesn't work because the criminal is simply too deadly to be true and the book drags on long after it should have reached its inevitable conclusion.

Yet another excellent book in the Lucas Davenport "Prey" series. This book finds Lucas in St. Louis, on the trail of an old nemesis, Clara Rinker. Ex-hitwoman Rinker has been forced out of hiding, and Davenport is called in to assist the FBI in trying to stop her latest killing spree. As usual, this is another quick read, filled with interesting plot twists, and some new interesting characters. One of my few complaints is that Sandford does some heavy foreshadowing of one particular plot twist in the book, so that when it comes, it is no surprise at all.
This book is 354 pages long.

In the thirteenth Prey book featuring Lucas Davenport, John Sandford continues to deliver one of the most consistently good series in suspense fiction. While not the best in the bunch, it is still good enough to satisfy any Sandford fan.

A follow-up novel to Certain Prey - a couple books back in the series - Mortal Prey has the return of top-notch assassin Clara Rinker. She escaped at the end of Certain Prey, but when her lover is killed and she sustains a wound that kills her unborn baby, Clara is drawn out of hiding to avenge the murders. Lucas, hearing that Clara is back in the U.S., is called in to assist in her detention.

Clara is a challenging contrast to the normal serial killers that Lucas contends with, principally because she is not truly insane and is not driven by some psychosis that forces her to kill. Instead, she is coldly calculating and not likely to make the errors in judgment that often do in other Davenport adversaries.

There are no real flaws in this book except that Lucas himself is a little less interesting than usual. The Prey books are at their best when he is at his edgiest, and he is a bit tamer in this novel. Nonetheless, this is a good book and even a person new to the series should catch on pretty quickly and enjoy the ride.