The series World Englishes, designed to contain twelve volumes, presents a comprehensive, detailed survey of English as it is spoken around the world. The three volumes now available cover three geographical regions: The British Isles (Vol. I), North America (Vol. II), and Central America (Vol. III). Each chapter traces the linguistic, sociocultural, and historical aspects of the English varieties that have developed in one specific region. With contributions by leading scholars in the field, this publication constitutes an up-to-date addition to the literature on World Englishes and will serve as a useful reference for scholars in the field.

The series opens with the English varieties that developed as Old English in the fifth century in the British Isles. This is logical, as John McKenny in his introduction rightly points out that “the forebears of all the Englishes in the world can be traced back to the linguistic events during this period in this group of islands, the birthplace of English” (1). Volume I comprises thirteen chapters. Ch. 1 gives a historical overview of the English language since its beginning, providing a useful orientation for the rest of the series where various specific varieties are examined. Ch. 2 deals with the challenging task of examining the south-east varieties of English, which is then followed in Ch. 3 by a detailed discussion of distinctive features of Yorkshire Englishes. Varieties in the North East, West Midlands, and South West are elaborated in Chs. 4, 5, and 6. Ch. 7 describes English in Scotland, detailing the evolution of the varieties in the region, and Ch. 8 discusses the varieties in the Northwest. Chs. 9 and 10 center on the varieties of English in Wales and in Ireland respectively. Chs. 11 and 12 then shift to the varieties in the regions of the Isle of Man, and Orkney and Shetland Isles. The volume concludes with “English in the Channel Islands”, where English established itself only in the late eighteenth century.

The eight-chapter Volume II examines varieties of English in North America. Ch. 1 shows how Canadian English evolved as one of the oldest surviving varieties of colonial English. Chs. 2, 3, and 4 outline the development of southern American white varieties of English, Afro-Seminole Creole in Texas, and Midwest American English. Chs. 5 and 6 then address Chicano English and African American English. The final two chapters focus on varieties in the American West and Alaska.

Volume III, containing seven chapters, shifts its attention to the varieties of English spoken along the Caribbean coast of Central America. After a description of the varieties spoken in Mexico in Ch. 1, Chs. 2, 3, and 4 examine Belize Kriol, English in Honduras, and English-lexifier Creole in Nicaragua. The final three chapters concentrate on Limonese Creole English, English in Panama, and English in the Colombian Archipelago of San Andres.

All of the chapters are illustrated with maps and figures that provide readers with excellent clarification of the textual content.