{"product_id":"defining-the-world-the-extraordinary-story-of-dr-johnsons-dictionary-9780312426200","title":"Defining the World: The Extraordinary Story of Dr Johnson's Dictionary","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA \u003ci\u003eLos Angeles Times\u003c\/i\u003e Favorite Book of the Year\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn 1746, Samuel Johnson undertook the Herculean task of writing the first comprehensive English dictionary. Imagining he could complete the job in three years, Johnson in fact took more than eight, and the dictionary itself turned out to be as much a work of literature as it was an invaluable reference. In alphabetized chapters, from \"Adventurous\" to \"Zootomy,\" Henry Hitchings tells of Johnson's toil and triumph and offers a closer look at the definitions themselves, which were alive with invention, poetry, erudition, and, at times, hilarious imprecision. The story of Johnson's adventure into the essence of words is an entertainment that \"sparkles on every page\" (\u003ci\u003eThe Philadelphia Inquirer\u003c\/i\u003e).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e St. Martins Press-3PL\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 10\/17\/2006\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780312426200\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 292\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.80lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.40h x 5.50w x 0.90d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e 12\/10\/2006 pg. 32\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Henry Hitchings","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":36635878981788,"sku":"9780312426200","price":19.55,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_b4caa9d9-e1b2-4240-a412-81d0328fe98f.jpg?v=1603840775","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/defining-the-world-the-extraordinary-story-of-dr-johnsons-dictionary-9780312426200","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}