The dictionary of lost words

Australian Book Industry Award (ABIA) for General Fiction (2021) Shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction (2021) Over 20,000 reviews on Amazon Circulating in 29 countries Selected by Reese Witherspoon's book club Expected to be translated into short screen. In 1901 the editors of the Oxford Dictionary discovered that the word slave was missing from its entries. The Dictionary of Lost Words tells the story of the girl who stole it. Orphaned by her mother, Esme spends her childhood in the scriptorium of a small house in Oxford, where her father and a team of lexicographers collect words for the first ever Oxford English Dictionary. Esme is sitting under the triage table. One day a paper with the word "slave" falls to the floor. No one is looking for it. Esme hides the paper in a young maid's trunk and begins to collect more words that men miss, reject or ignore. These words help her understand the world. As the years pass, Esme realizes that some words are considered more important than others, and that words and concepts related to women's experiences often go unrecorded. So he begins collecting words for another dictionary: The Dictionary of Lost Words. The Dictionary of Lost Words takes place at the height of the women's suffrage movement, a few years before World War I. It reveals a lost truth, hidden between the lines of history written by men. A delightful and lyrical tribute to words and the power of language. They wrote about the book: “Enjoyable . . . [a] seductive and subversive literary paean to real women whose work has gone largely unnoticed in the Oxford English Dictionary.' –The New York Times Book Review “A wonderful novel about words, their adventures, and their ability to interpret and, above all, question this world. The most original novel of the year. I'm sure." –Thomas Keneally, author of the novel Schindler's List “A beautiful exploration of history and the power of language. For anyone who loves and appreciates words, this subversive story weaves love, loss and literature in an utterly lyrical way." –Reese Witherspoon (Reese's Book Club May '22 Pick) “This great novel attempts to redress a scandalous omission in the historical record of the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary – the contribution of women… without whom the English language would not be so rich and colorful". –Boston magazine "Full of hope and tenderness, sadness and joy, feelings of love and loss." –The Herald Sun “I've read Williams' book twice. The first time I was eagerly devouring the pages to see how it would turn out, and I had to re-read it to catch what I had missed. […] My advice to readers is this: Dive deep into the pages of the Dictionary of Lost Words without getting carried away by the hype that has been made of it. Don't gobble it up like I did the first time, enjoy its fascinating details." –Roslyn Petelin, The Conversation “A great debut. I even cried while reading it on the train." –Sarah L'Estrange, producer of ABC's The Book Show radio show "The debut novelist who caused excitement during the lockdown." –The Guardian Australia "The greatest virtue of The Dictionary of Lost Words is the complexity of the main heroine, whose character is not easily categorized." –Louise Swinn, The Saturday Paper “A highly original concept matched by well-crafted characters, gripping settings and delightful storytelling – The Dictionary of Lost Words delivers on all the promises of the best historical fiction. Pip Williams' inspiring novel paints a portrait of an unforgettable woman – a woman of endurance, modesty, generosity, self-awareness and indomitable strength – who finds a groundbreaking solution to the so-often exclusion of women's lives and interests from official history ». –Melissa Ashley, author of The Birdman's Wife and The Bee and the Orange Tree "Thorough research and excellent writing […] one of the most remarkable books by a first-time novelist I've ever read." –Better Reading “Enthralling and increasingly enchanting as you go along. A book that you literally lose yourself in its pages. A must for readers who enjoyed Elizabeth Gilbert's The Signature of All Things.' –Ben Hunter, Booktopia's Head of Fiction “Esme and her world really touched me. Amazing character, with special intelligence, empathy and endurance. A novel that thrilled me." –Alexa Dretzke, Readings Monthly "A profound hymn to words." –Better Homes and Gardens

Category: Social
Pages: 552
Dimensions: 14 x 20.5 cm.
Color: Monochrome
Cover: Soft