The Professor

Dr. William Chester Minor arrives in the UK seeking asylum from the United States. He is a former army surgeon suffering from paranoia and delusions, convinced that he is being stalked.

In a fit of paranoia, Minor mistakes an innocent civilian for his imagined stalker and kills him. During the trial, Minor is deemed borderline psychotic and is sentenced to Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum.

Sir James Murray is commissioned by the Oxford Press to compile the Oxford English Dictionary. Despite a lack of support from his peers, the prestigious task aligns with his skills as a linguist.

To tackle the monumental task of cataloging the English language, Murray proposes enlisting contributions from everyday language users. His innovative approach begins with a public appeal inserted in books across libraries.

While at Broadmoor, Dr. Minor performs an emergency leg amputation on a guard, saving his life. This act of bravery earns him recognition from Dr. Richard Brayne, who studies Minor's psyche.

Eliza Merrett, the widow of the man Minor killed, is initially reluctant to accept financial help from him, despite her dire circumstances. Muncie, the chief guard, advocates for her to meet Minor.

Murray receives his first batch of 1,000 words from Minor, highlighting the contributions of the imprisoned doctor. This progress motivates Murray, and he soon publishes the first volume of the dictionary.

During her visits, Eliza develops a bond with Minor and begins to collect her thoughts. Minor not only aids her financially but also teaches her in hopes of improving her and her children's situation.

As the project progresses, criticism mounts against Murray regarding missing common words. To protect his job, Frederick takes the blame for an omission, eventually resigning to keep Murray's work alive.

The Oxford Press discovers the significant contributions of a murderer, leading to Murray's editorship being revoked, and Minor receiving no acknowledgment for his submissions. This news devastates both men.

As treatment in the asylum grows harsher, Minor's mental state declines. Eliza and Murray, determined to aid him, seek help from Frederick to arrange a parole hearing.

Murray makes a heartfelt appeal to Winston Churchill to obtain Minor's release. Although Churchill cannot release him, he agrees to deport Minor back to the United States, allowing Murray to reclaim his position.

Murray, who had been knighted in 1908 for his efforts, continues working until his death in 1915. By this time, he had made significant contributions to the language and left a lasting legacy.

Dr. Minor, diagnosed with schizophrenia, passes away in 1920. Despite their troubled lives, both men transformed the landscape of the English language with their work on the dictionary.

The Oxford English Dictionary is completed in 1928, consisting of 12 volumes, with over 414,000 words and countless quotations. This monumental work reflects the collaborative efforts of both Murray and Minor.