The Dictionary of Lost Words: A Novel

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars | 33,052 ratings

Price: 18

Last update: 01-29-2025


About this item

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK “Delightful . . . [a] captivating and slyly subversive fictional paean to the real women whose work on the Oxford English Dictionary went largely unheralded.”—The New York Times Book Review

“A marvelous fiction about the power of language to elevate or repress.”—Geraldine Brooks, New York Times bestselling author of People of the Book

Esme is born into a world of words. Motherless and irrepressibly curious, she spends her childhood in the Scriptorium, an Oxford garden shed in which her father and a team of dedicated lexicographers are collecting words for the very first Oxford English Dictionary. Young Esme’s place is beneath the sorting table, unseen and unheard. One day a slip of paper containing the word bondmaid flutters beneath the table. She rescues the slip and, learning that the word means “slave girl,” begins to collect other words that have been discarded or neglected by the dictionary men.

As she grows up, Esme realizes that words and meanings relating to women’s and common folks’ experiences often go unrecorded. And so she begins in earnest to search out words for her own dictionary: the Dictionary of Lost Words. To do so she must leave the sheltered world of the university and venture out to meet the people whose words will fill those pages.

Set during the height of the women’s suffrage movement and with the Great War looming, The Dictionary of Lost Words reveals a lost narrative, hidden between the lines of a history written by men. Inspired by actual events, author Pip Williams has delved into the archives of the Oxford English Dictionary to tell this highly original story. The Dictionary of Lost Words is a delightful, lyrical, and deeply thought-provoking celebration of words and the power of language to shape the world.

WINNER OF THE AUSTRALIAN BOOK INDUSTRY AWARD


Top reviews from the United States

  • Melora Fern
    5.0 out of 5 stars This novel is a dream read for anyone who loves everything about words!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2025
    This novel is a dream read for anyone who loves everything about words! Pip Williams’ historic fiction about the making of the Oxford Dictionary at the turn of the 20th century is fascinating! Esme, the young protagonist, learns the power of words from her father’s world as a lexicographer. She starts collecting words that are lost, the first word being bondmaid. As she grows, so does her awareness of whose words are not being collected for the dictionary—those used by women. Williams’ seamlessly weaves facts along with fiction and her beautiful imagery to create a believable story world, a sympathetic hero, and an original premise.

    Synopsis: Motherless and irrepressibly curious, Esme spends her childhood in the Scriptorium, a team of lexicographers are gathering words for the very first Oxford English Dictionary. Esme begins to collect words that are misplaced, discarded or have been neglected by the dictionary men. They help her make sense of the world. Set when the women’s suffrage movement was at its height and the Great War loomed, The Dictionary of Lost Words reveals a lost narrative, hidden between the lines of a history written by men.

    I love this book, so much so it has become one of my top ten favorites. I highly recommend reading or listening to it!
  • Sophia
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Solid Debut
    Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2022
    3.5 Stars
    The Dictionary of Lost Words is a historical fiction novel that focuses on creating the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary. In the story, we're introduced to young Esme. Esme is allowed to observe their work since her father is a lexicographer and is the only person who can watch her since her mother has died. We watch Esme grow into an adult, develop her love of words, learn about the suffragettes, and deal with the effects of World War 1.
    First, let's focus on my critiques of the book. The first 1/3 of the book is different from the rest. Although I enjoyed parts of it, there was too much filler. I liked knowing where Esme's love of words came from, but we didn't need so much of it. Instead, I would've liked to have seen a more fleshed-out ending. The ending was arguably the best part of the book, but it was much too short. I had to re-read parts of it because I couldn't believe what was happening so quickly. It was not comparable pace to the rest of the book. Finally, I wish there was more balance between Esme and the secondary characters. I liked that Esme was simply an ordinary girl. However, there should've been balance to the book with more "interesting" characters like Tilda and Lizzie. The beauty of the story also lies within Esme's growth. I would've liked to have seen more of it.
    However, I enjoyed a lot about this book as well. I loved how the book made me reflect on words and how they came to be. Should we remove words we don't like from the dictionary? Why are words describing women's experiences taboo? I had many great reflections while reading this book. Next, I enjoyed how informative this book was. Pip Williams outdid herself with the accuracy of timelines and her research into the role women played in the dictionary. Finally, while it was much too short, the ending was heartbreaking and beautiful. The story came full circle, and I couldn't picture a better way to end the book.
    Overall, Pip Williams delivers a strong debut that weaves several important parts of history together.
  • Reens
    5.0 out of 5 stars I'm lost for words!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2024
    This book is so so beautiful and perfect for any lover of words. I was fascinated and intrigued by the title alone and was curious about how words were collected or chosen to be included in a dictionary. What I read was far beyond what I expected. This historical fiction is one of the best I have read and I am in awe of it all. The amount of research that must have gone into it is already very impressive. The way the story moves along a real timeline including the women's suffrage movement, WWI and the character, Esme's fictional life is an incredible feat. In the author's note, Williams said that the novel took two years to write. To me it seems like a very short time to write and research something so overwhelmingly complicated, and often lacking in concrete detail in available history books and articles. I read this book over two months. At first, it was difficult to get into it but as the story progressed, I found myself wanting to know more, my curiosity growing, while my understanding deepened with every chapter. I had to look up many words as I was reading and luckily, the dictionary was easily accessible to me via the Kindle app. It made me grateful to be living in this century and not in the time period this book is based on. How many words must have been lost or not understood over the years because they had not been recorded or discarded as 'insignificant'? Who has the right to decide what should or shouldn't be included? The English language has evolved so much over the years that new words and meanings are created every day. The Oxford English Dictionary requires new editions and updates every few years. It's come a long way since the first edition, and more words and entries will be added continuously. I'm glad that the lost words mentioned in this book have been preserved. This story will make you cry and cheer, question and ponder, reflect and learn from the past. It's a beautiful story about love, determination, family, friendship, loyalty, perseverance and courage. So much is packed into this book that I think it needs to be read at least twice to really appreciate and understand all the details in the book. If you are a history buff, a lover of words and language, you need to read this book.
  • Cicero
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
    Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2024
    A satisfying read with great character development and a steady pace to enjoy. I would recommend it for a time when you want something reliable to read.

    • Best Sellers in

     
     

    The Swimmer: A Novel

    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 7,460
    30.09
     
     

    Nemesis: An Orphan X Novel, Volume 10

    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 2,436
    21.65
     
     

    Pachinko

    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 77,595
    30.41
     
     

    The Rose Code: A Novel

    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 54,881
    26.99
     
     

    Onyx Storm - Flammengeküsst: Fourth Wing 3

    3.5 3.5 out of 5 stars 3
    34.52
     
     

    Burden of the Assassin: Peter Black, Book 1

    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 9,456
    21.83
     
     

    Master of Puppets: Master of Puppets, Book 1

    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 252
    29.66
     
     

    The Crash

    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 104,704
    23.64