The Story of English
Encyclopedia
The Story of English is the title of an Emmy Award
-winning nine-part television series, and a companion book, both produced in 1986, detailing the development of the English language
.
The book and the television series were written by Robert MacNeil
, Robert McCrum
, and William Cran. The book has been revised twice, once in 1993, and again in 2002.
The documentary series was directed by William Cran, and originally broadcast on BBC
and PBS. It was co-produced by MacNeil-Lehrer Productions and the BBC, and was principally funded through a grant from General Foods
. The third episode, "A Muse of Fire", won the 1987 Primetime Emmy Award
for Outstanding Individual Achievement - Informational Programming - Writing. The series was released as a 5 tape box set in 2001, running 495 minutes.
The book and series have been used in University courses.
Primetime Emmy Award
The Primetime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming...
-winning nine-part television series, and a companion book, both produced in 1986, detailing the development of the English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.
The book and the television series were written by Robert MacNeil
Robert MacNeil
Robert Breckenridge Ware MacNeil, OC, known sometimes as Robin MacNeil, , is currently a novelist and formerly was a television news anchor and journalist who had paired with Jim Lehrer to create The MacNeil/Lehrer Report in 1975.-Early life:MacNeil was born in Montreal, the son of Margaret...
, Robert McCrum
Robert McCrum
Robert McCrum , is an English writer and editor. He served as literary editor of The Observer for more than ten years. In May 2008 he was appointed Associate Editor of the Observer and was succeeded as literary editor by William Skidelsky...
, and William Cran. The book has been revised twice, once in 1993, and again in 2002.
The documentary series was directed by William Cran, and originally broadcast on BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and PBS. It was co-produced by MacNeil-Lehrer Productions and the BBC, and was principally funded through a grant from General Foods
General Foods
General Foods Corporation was a company whose direct predecessor was established in the USA by Charles William Post as the Postum Cereal Company in 1895. The name General Foods was adopted in 1929, after several corporate acquisitions...
. The third episode, "A Muse of Fire", won the 1987 Primetime Emmy Award
Primetime Emmy Award
The Primetime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming...
for Outstanding Individual Achievement - Informational Programming - Writing. The series was released as a 5 tape box set in 2001, running 495 minutes.
The book and series have been used in University courses.
Episode list
- An English Speaking World
- The Mother Tongue
- A Muse of Fire
- The Guid Scots Tongue
- Black on White ( Includes Interveiws With Philadelphia Hip Hop Legends The Scanner Boys, Parry P and Grand Tone)
- Pioneers, O Pioneers!
- Muvver Tongue
- The Loaded Weapon
- Next Year's Words