Every day, you do something incredible, and I bet you barely ever think about it: you speak.
Ever wondered why the English language turned out how it did?
Why do we have so many different words for just one thing?
And why are so many words spelt the same but sound different?
In this beautifully illustrated journey through word and rhyme - and even a few jokes - Bill Bryson will teach you how the English language came to be (clue: lots of invasions) and what makes it a rich and beautiful thing (lots of Shakespeare).