Globish : how the English language became the world's language / Robert McCrum.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [309]-312) and index.

Founders. In the beginning: four invasions and a cultural revolution ; Defeat into victory: the DNA of self-expression ; 'Lighte Englisshe': medieval mass communications ; Eating paper, drinking ink: Shakespeare & Co. -- Pioneers. 'A whole country of English': re-inventing freedom and originality ; 'Common hopes and common dreams': lighting out for the territory ; 'The audacity of hope': from slavery to redemption -- Popularisers. Rule, Britannia!: How England became British ; East, in a western voice: the People's Empire ; 'At the top of the world': the imperial swan song -- Modernisers. 'A willingness of the heart': the American century I ; 'The unity of the English-speaking people': the American century II ; 'The world at your fingertips': from Google to globish, 1989-2009 -- Globalisers. One world, one dream: 'Conquer English to make China strong' ; 'Virtually running America': India, the Far East and beyond.

Robert McCrum, coauthor of the best-selling book and television series The Story of English, shows how the language of the Anglo-American imperium has become the world's lingua franca --From vendor description.