The Mother Tongue

This extraordinary audiobook is a must-listen for the billions of people who speak English every day. It's full of riveting facts and oddities about the origin of the language that has taken over the world, even though its historical pedigree is questionable, at best. There are funny anecdotes throughout, and the author has done his research well. Given the wonderful text, it's disappointing to hear Stephen McLaughlin's dull, unimaginative narration. McLaughlin has a friendly, deep voice, but the text is far more interesting than his lackluster approach would indicate. He also needs to vary his tone to make the funny bits come alive. This is a great book, and it deserves a more robust reading. R.I.G. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

September 2, 1991
Bryson's blend of linguistic anecdotes and Anglo-Saxon cultural history proves entertaining but superficial. ``While his historical review is thorough. . . he mostly reiterates conventional views about English's structural superiority,'' said PW. ``He retells old tales with fresh verve . . . but becomes sloppy when matters of rhetoric and grammar arise.''