Description
By Hook or by Crook: A Journey in Search of English by David Crystal is a lively exploration of the English language through the people, places and communities the author encounters on his travels. Rather than treating English as a fixed set of grammatical rules, Crystal looks at how the language is actually spoken and used, from regional accents and dialects to unusual words, expressions and place names.
Beginning in Wales and travelling through Britain and further afield, Crystal combines personal observations and anecdotes with his knowledge as a linguist. His journey takes him from sheep markets and railway stations to places as far apart as Birmingham, Stratford, Kolkata, Łódź and San Francisco, with each stop prompting questions about where English comes from and how it continues to change. The result is an accessible and entertaining look at the history, variety and quirks of the English language.
