Top books on the history and use of English

OpinionJournal - Five Best :: Watch Your Language

1. The Oxford English Dictionary (1884).
2. "The Use of English" by Randolph Quirk (St. Martin's, 1963).

3. "A History of the English Language" by Albert C. Baugh (Appleton-Century, 1935).
4. Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases by Peter Mark Roget (1852)
5. "Mother Tongue" by Bill Bryson (William Morrow, 1990).

Mr. Crystal is the author of more than 30 books specifically on English. His latest title, "How Language Works" (Overlook), will be published in November.