The Story of English was written to a strict deadline: the simultaneous transmission of the accompanying television series in Britain and the United States in 1986. Inevitably, omissions were made and errors crept in. Two chapters had to go to press before the filming was completed. Limitations of space meant making some painful cuts. Now, with hindsight, we have prepared a fully revised version of the text, also taking the opportunity gratefully to incorporate a number of refinements suggested by our readers.
