The Surgeon of Crowthorne: A Tale of Murder, Madness and the Oxford English Dictionary

1999, mass market paperback reprint edition, Penguin, NY. 207 pages. "An extraordinary tale." Great book, with true characters who seem fictional, indeed. Two men correspond for 20 years. They were, in fact, writing what was to become The Oxford English Dictionary. Finally, the one researcher decides to visit his co-correspondent. Upon reaching his destination, he is told "Dr. Minor is most certainly here. He is an inmate at the asylum. He has been a patient here for more than 20 years." Fascinating title.