Dictionary of Lost Words- Pip Williams

Synopsis:

Set in pre-war Oxford, Esme lives with her father who works in the Scriptorium- a community full of dedicated workers aiming to create the first English dictionary. Having spent her childhood under the table of her father’s workplace, Esme develops a strong passion for words: their meanings, their ubiquitous nature, and particularly, the words which are regarded as improper in standard English- the vocabulary used by those rejected in society. Her curiosity leads her down a path of self-discovery, as she divulges into the hidden life of the lower-class, and befriends those few women unafraid to rebel against the patriarchy. Fighting against expectations and societal condemning, Esme navigates her way through adulthood and life’s cruel reality; all the while holding fast to her enduring love for words and the countless gifts they have bestowed upon her.

My thoughts:

As a young adult who grew up in a world surrounded by books, metaphors, and rich vocabulary, this book re-sparked my gratitude for words and all that they have gifted me in my own life. Although at surface level, the novel seems to be a simple coming of age tale, in reality, Williams managed to capture the quiet significance of language and its power to utterly shape one’s character. Yet it isn’t necessarily the words themselves that impact us, rather it’s their capacity to capture the small, forgotten moments in life, and turn them into something permanent; a feeling, a small gesture, a laugh- all are brought to life through writing- and that is one thing that I began to understand when reading this book.

The aspect that I found most interesting about this novel was its historical truth behind it. Through months of research and analysis, Williams recreated the true journey of the dictionary through her novel- using the correct names of the members working on it, and its unfabricated journey, interrupted by war and conflict. Although the narrative of the story is mostly fictional, the fundamental aspects of the tale (such as the publication of the dictionary), remain unaltered- allowing a reader to divulge into its unknown and often overlooked history, whilst fully appreciating the endurance that was channeled into its making.

To me, a dictionary was once just a reference book, a collection of definitions. But after reading this novel, my view has completely altered. I now see it as a memoire of passion, of relentless pursuit, and most importantly, a celebration of language. It’s a reminder that our words carry history, identity, and meaning- and that their preservation often matters more than we realize.