'David Crystal is phenomenal ... (This) is a prodigious achievement ... The book combines breadth of range, imaginative insight, deep understanding and ... is pervasively readable and stimulating.' Lord Randolph Quirk
'David Crystal's scholarship is seemingly boundless, and faultless in every respect. The result is an awesome scholarly creation, very well suited to the learning styles of our times, and an extraordinary reference and lending bargain at its price of GBP17.95.' Reference Reviews
'The Cambridge Encyclopedia of English Language (is) perhaps the most brilliant book of the past ten years...what makes it most impressive is that this stupendous work of scholarship, which combines physiology, philology and literary criticism, is, unbelievably, the work of one sole author.' Globe and Mail
'A treasure trove of information.' Good Book Guide
"The Cambridge Encyclopedia of English Language (is) perhaps the most brilliant book of the past ten years...what makes it most impressive is that this stupendous work of scholarship, which combines physiology, philology and literary criticism, is, unbelievably, the work of one sole author." Globe and Mail (Canadian)
"...very attractively produced....The breadth of the presentation is stimulating....[an] entertaining and informative encyclopedia." Notes on Linguistics
"This is more than an encyclopedia; it is also a compendium of wonderful anecdotes and illustrations. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language should be at the top of the list for purchases in all library language/literature collections." Reference Book Review
"The clear and spirited text is stunning, enhanced with over 500 illustrations, making this a particularly rich reference work and a browser's dream....Crystal has created an attractive and readable work for the lay reader as well as the specialist." Library Journal
"...lives up to the reputation of other resources published under the Cambridge imprint and will make an excellent addition to the collections of large public libraries and all academic libraries." Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin
"...bedazzles you with an eye-popping presentation of the cluck-clucking of the mother tongue. If you like fireworks with your information, this is a worthwhile language book..." William Safire, The New York Times Magazine
"...a superb work that manages to be both scholarly and vastly entertaining. A deeply impressive book....the most entertaining and informative browsing book of the summer, as well as a first-rate introduction to contemporary thinking about language." Michael Dirda, Washington Post Book World
"...the most diverting, delightful, imaginative and altogether entertaining compilation ever assembled about spoken and written English....you can have an enjoyable time browsing through these pages and even learn a bit along the way." Herbert Kupferberg, Parade
"You can open it to any page and be enthralled." Indianapolis News
"The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language [is] perhaps the most brilliant book of the past 10 years...what makes it most impressive is that this stupendous work of scholarship, which combines physiology, philosophy, and literary criticism, is unbelievably, the work of one sole author." Toronto Globe and Mail
