Our Marvels Native Tongue

Robert Claiborne, Robert Clairborne. Three Rivers Press (CA), $12 (0pp) ISBN 978-0-8129-1635-5

Sweeping across centuries and conti nents, Claiborne traces the history of English from its roots in the Danube Valley 8000 years ago to its status to day as native tongue of some 300 mil lion people. PW called this ""informa tive and entertaining.'' (March)