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The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

40 reviews

elanele's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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mel_s_bookshelf's review against another edition

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emotional informative inspiring relaxing slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

This is probably the most wonderfully unique story that I have ever read.

It is the story of a dictionary. The Oxford English Dictionary to be precise. In its first publication, the Oxford English Dictionary was discovered to be missing a word; Bondmaid. This is the story of how that word came to be missing. It is the story of Esme Nicoll, the young girl who spends her childhood hiding beneath the sorting table of the Scriptorium, where a team of lexicographers are working on gathering and defining words for the dictionary. Over time, Esme beings to learn that certain words are deemed more important than others, a notion to which she finds she disagrees. So, she begins to gather words herself, words deemed ‘unimportant’, mostly from working class women, whom would otherwise not be heard. Words for another dictionary: The Dictionary of Lost Words.

Esme’s story had me captivated from the beginning. This was in part due to how beautifully it was written – it was a very slow-paced book, but it was so rich in detail, of characters, setting, history and feeling, that I did not once feel bored. I listened to this mostly on audiobook, in small sized pieces over a few weeks, and honestly, I didn’t want it to end. It began to feel like a place of comfort I could turn to every night, so much so I almost want to just listen to it all over again.

The other reason this story had me so captivated is more personal. I am a huge lover of words – reading them, discussing them, puzzling with them, and writing them. I share this love with my late Grandfather, who was an avid reader, always choosing a book over the television. He also wrote poetry, loved the daily crossword puzzle, and his own dictionary was never far away.

His dictionary is now in my possession, and so of course I had to check – it is indeed an Oxford English Dictionary and just to make sure, I looked, and yes, the word bondmaid is now definitely in there!

If you too are a lover of words, then make sure to give this a read (or listen – the narration was beautiful and captivating)

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pineapplestitches's review against another edition

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informative reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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carolynhm's review against another edition

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emotional informative inspiring sad slow-paced

Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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kbergsten's review against another edition

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challenging inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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frogglin's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Set against the backdrop of the Suffragette movement and World War I, this is the story of Esme. From a very early age she has spent her time in the Scriptorium, a garden shed where men are working day after day to define as many words as they can with the ultimate aim of publishing the very first Oxford English Dictionary.

There is a rich sense of history and time in this novel and Esme's growing frustration that "women's words" and those used by the poor or marginalised are not considered worthy of inclusion in the dictionary is perfectly pitched. Her relationship with Lizzie, the maid of the house belonging to Dr Murray (who is in charge of the work of collecting words) grows and deepens as they age into a true friendship.

Esme herself lacks the bravery to chain herself to a fence or march for the vote, it is an interesting portrait of a young women who wants to help make a change but has to find her own way to do it. Something that is still a valid discussion today. Change and progress can come from many directions.

Pip Williams has woven Esme's story among those of real people (although fictionalised) who were busy in the creation of the first Oxford English Dictionary, and also moved Esme into different circles socially which provides a good variety and depth to the story as well as challenging her character into new directions and ideas.

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elzbethmrgn's review

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emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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

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erin_lovell's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

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lace_daisies_and_mary_oliver's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I loved this book, it took place of the protagonist’s entire life from the age of (from memory) 5. It really is about coming of age, being a woman (especially when that in itself was frowned upon) and a love of words.

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oliviashleigh's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

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