The Dictionary of Lost Words
Ratings25
Average rating4
15
Ratings25
Average rating4
'If you only read one book this year, let it be this one!' FIVE STAR NETGALLEY READER REVIEW 'An extraordinary, charming novel... Williams pins a whole, rich life to the page' The Times In 1901, the word 'bondmaid' was discovered missing from the Oxford English Dictionary. This is the story of the girl who stole it. Motherless and irrepressibly curious, Esme spends her childhood in the Scriptorium, a garden shed in Oxford where her father and a team of lexicographers are gathering words for the very first Oxford English Dictionary. Esme's place is beneath the sorting table, unseen and unheard. One day, she sees a slip containing the word 'bondmaid' flutter to the floor unclaimed. Over time, Esme realises that some words are considered more important than others, and that words and meanings relating to women's experiences often go unrecorded. She begins to collect words for another dictionary: The Dictionary of Lost Words. **SHORTLISTED FOR THE WALTER SCOTT PRIZE FOR HISTORICAL FICTION** PRAISE FOR THE DICTIONARY OF LOST WORDS 'Set at a time when women's voices were clamouring more than ever to be heard, it moved me greatly to think how history is skewed by those who hold power -- and how important it is that novels like this redress that balance' Elizabeth Macneal, author or The Doll Factory 'A brilliant book about women and words - tender, moving and profound' Jacqueline Wilson 'I absolutely loved this book! Thought-provoking, touching and subtly romantic; I finished it in tears' Katie Fforde MORE FIVE STAR NETGALLEY READER REVIEWS 'If you're a fan of The Binding and The Betrayals you will surely love this' 'A glorious combination of words, growing up, friendship, love, feminism and so much more' 'The best love letter to words and language' 'This book broke my heart ... I highly recommend it to any historical fiction fans ... it's one I will be reading again'
Reviews with the most likes.
Fine story following young Esme in parallel to the development of the first Oxford Dictionary. Gender roles were highlighted subtly at first and then more boldly as Esme's childhood gave way to womanhood and her own ambition. After the most metaphorical and vague fade-to-black I've ever read, Esme falls into a trope I didn't expect or appreciate. Later, the story peaks and suffragettes make the scene, but suddenly I hit diminishing returns. Gareth and Esme aren't given enough pages to sit with their emotions, so every chapter approaching the end seems anti-climactic, like sleep-walking through a misty, half-forgotten dream. Still, very much appreciate the attention paid to showing classcism, sexism, and misogyny.
I hadn't heard of this before I picked it up in a (real life!) bookshop, but apparently it garnered plenty of attention when it was published last year. And with good reason, I think.
It's the story of a woman, Esme, framed by the compilation of the Oxford English Dictionary, the way the meaning of words are shaped by use (as her own life's meaning is shaped by use), the words/lives considered worthy or unworthy of recording for posterity and who gets to decide that worth.
I enjoyed this one: slow and character-driven, no high drama, some tearful moments. I would have appreciated a content warning, but it's seriously spoilery and it would have ruined the moment, but I leave it here for you: childbirth, child loss, adoption .
The final chapter and the epilogue continue past Esme's work on the Dictionary, and I feel the book would have been stronger without it. Ditte's final letter would have been the perfect end-point, in my mind although clearly Megan's lecture shows Esme's work given the public attention she hoped it would someday achieve .
This book is more of a reflection than anything, lending itself to a more formal and slightly more detached feel than I am used to. Still, the content matter was ever so important to reflect on, especially when as readers we are well aware of the power of language and who tells the stories we know. Though slow moving, I found this book interestingly pertinent.
Interesting (but sad) semi-fictionalised history of the dictionary, with quite good characters (especially Ditte and Lizzie, who I'd like to have heard more about) and fun to read about Oxford back then!
