A history of the English language from its early beginnings to present day English in all its variations.

A work of profound scholarship and powerful storytelling from host Robert MacNeil, this classic nine-part PBS series remains one of the great narratives of linguistic studies-and is now available on digitally re-mastered, menu-driven DVD. Steeped in history, geography, sociology, and political drama, The Story of English has little to do with dictionaries, official documents, or highbrow.

A PBS documentary detailing the development of the English language. Initially arising as a mix of Gaelic, Norse and Saxon, the language gradually developed its own distinctive characteristics. As time passed and native speakers began to spread throughout the world, different regions began to form their own dialects.—Jean-Marc Rocher <[email protected]> (revision by Albert Sanchez Moreno)