Guilty By Definition follows Martha Thornhill, the new senior editor at the Clarendon English Dictionary, as she returns to her hometown after a decade abroad. An anonymous letter arrives, hinting at secrets and lies related to the year her brilliant and beautiful older sister Charlie went missing. As Martha and her colleagues delve into the clues, they uncover a series of secret absences going back centuries. The book is a nuanced exploration of grief, guilt, and the emotional aftershocks of Charlie's disappearance, set against the backdrop of a intriguing mystery and the city of Oxford.
Sarah Ogilvie's "The Dictionary People" unveils the untold stories of the thousands of individuals who contributed to the Oxford English Dictionary. It highlights the diverse backgrounds of these contributors, many of whom were women, lacked formal education, or were patients in mental institutions. The book explores their motivations, the challenges they faced, and their significant impact on the creation of this monumental work. Ogilvie's research sheds light on the human element behind the dictionary, revealing a rich tapestry of lives and experiences. The book challenges the traditional perception of the OED as a purely scholarly endeavor, emphasizing the collaborative and inclusive nature of its creation.
The genius of Countdown’s dictionary corner Susie Dent is the master of the English language. Lexicographer and etymologist by training, she has spent 30 years on our screens explaining the history and origin of words on one of the world’s longest-running game shows, Channel 4’s Countdown.
In November 2024 Dent came to the Intelligence Squared stage to discuss her life-long love affair with the English language and how it has culminated in her debut crime novel Guilt by Definition — a glorious celebration of the English dictionary. As all good crime novels begin, it unfolds around a mysterious disappearance. And the protagonist, Martha Thornhill, Senior Editor of the Clarendon English Dictionary, uses words, and their peculiarly precise meanings, as clues in her quest to find out what really happened.
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