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World-renowned writer on the English language David Crystal and his wife Hilary drove thousands of miles across Britain to compile a unique English-language history and travelogue. Wordsmiths and Warriors explores the heritage of the English language through the places that shaped it. The Crystals link the invaders and warriors who transformed the language with the poets, scholars and reformers who shaped its character. The result is a book where warriors such as Byrhtnoth and King Alfred share pages with wordsmiths such as Robert Burns and Tim Bobbin.

David Crystal’s recent works include The Story of English in 100 Words and Spell It Out: The Singular Story of English Spelling. Hilary Crystal worked for a while in clinical linguistic research before becoming a sub-editor for various volumes in the Cambridge and Penguin families of encyclopedias. She has designed several books, and her first novel for tweenagers was published in 2013.