"The Adventure of English" is an excellent documentation of the formation and subsequent journey of the English language up to the present day. It is told in a fluent and scholarly style but with a conversational tone running throughout. This is certainly what makes the book such a joy to read. Bragg develops an unseen rapport with his reader very early on and manages to build on that until the very last. The depth of knowledge is incredible and obviously having made a radio and television series on the same topic one would expect as much. If you are looking for a comprehensive and focused insight into the formation and structure of the English language then this book will definately be a disappointment. However the focus on sociological issues concerning English is fascinating, evidently stemming from Bragg's University degree in history. An excellent addition to any library. Both informative and immensely enjoyable.