A history of the English language traces its evolution from a Germanic dialect around 500 A.D. to its modern form, noting the influence of such groups and individuals as early Anglo-Saxon tribes, Alfred the Great, and William Shakespeare.

Some of the greatest minds of science are profiled in a series of engaging portraits. On Giants' Shoulders Explore the greatest minds in the history of science with some of the top scientific thinkers of today. Archimedes Galileo Galilei Sir Isaac Newton Antoine Lavoisier Michael Faraday Charles Darwin Jules Henri Poincar Sigmund Freud Marie Curie Albert Einstein Francis Crick James Watson The story of science is the greatest adventure of the human...

In an interview with Melvyn Bragg, artist David Hockney gives a highly personal account of the major developments in art in the 20th century. Documentation for use as a teaching aid is available from Arts Council Film Office.

"What started as a minor Germanic dialect spoken by the Saxons became perhaps England's greatest export ... [T]his eight-part enhanced DVD series tells the story of how English became a global language. Along the way, each episode uses location footage, rare manuscripts, linguistic experts, and fascinating etymologies to chart the growth of English, its encounters with other languages, its history, and its far-reaching influence."--Container.

"In this classic interview, the late composer talks on topics such as his love of nature and his fervent Christian faith, two themes that profoundly shaped his work; his views on rhythm and tonal color; his relationship with his mother, the poet Cécile Sauvage; and his professorship at the Paris Conservatoire. Film clips of Messiaen improvising on the organ and notating birdsong for his compositions--plus excerpts of his music, some of which are...