I go to my village book group because I enjoy discussing books and getting to know people. I don’t particularly expect to enjoy the novels. It leans much more modern than my taste, and often towards the sort of historical fiction or issue-driven novel that are relatively well written and not (to me) at all interesting. They probably won’t be remembered in a decade’s time, and they’re often written in a very similar style.
Well, I’m more than happy to say that The Dictionary of Lost Words (2020) by Pip Williams is a pleasant exception to my rule. Yes, it’s historical fiction. Yes, it’s new(ish). And to be honest, yes, it probably isn’t going to enter any sort of canon – but I really enjoyed it. All 400+ pages of it, and we all know how I feel about books over 300 pages.
It helps that Williams is writing about a world I have known well. As the book opens, Esme is the daughter of a widowed man who works on the embryonic Oxford English Dictionary. He works under Dr James Murray, sorting slips of paper with quotations illustrating words. Each of these slips, stored in specially designed shelves in the Scriptorium, will contribute to evidence of how a word is used. Eventually, of course, every single word will be included in Murray’s ambitious OED.
The reason this is familiar to me is that I used to work for Oxford Dictionaries. I was in the marketing department, running a now-sadly-deleted blog about language, but we were all steeped in the lore of Murray and the origins of the dictionary. Williams has clearly researched all of this well, and I understand that one of my ex-colleagues was a consultant on the novel, making sure that it is a broadly accurate depiction of the early days of the dictionary.
But this is not a work of non-fiction, and so of course a lot is invented – not least Esme herself. As a young child, she is fascinated by what her dad is doing. The slips of paper have a special lure for her – and she can’t help but take one slip, for ‘bondmaid’, when it falls onto the floor. Bondmaid was, indeed, a word missing from the first edition of the OED. Williams’ suggested reason is fanciful, but I enjoyed the possibility.
It was a word, and it slipped off the end of the table. When it lands, I thought, I’ll rescue it, and hand it to Dr Murray myself.
I watched it. For a thousand moments I watched it ride some unseen current of air. I expect it to land on the unswept floor, but it didn’t. It glided like a bird, almost landing, then rose up to somersault as if bidden by a genie. I never imagined that it might land in my lap, that it could possibly travel so far. But it did.
[…]
I held the word up to the light. Black ink on white paper. Eight letters; the first, a butterfly B. I moved my mouth around the rest as Da had taught me: O for orange, N for naughty, D for dog, M for Murray, A for apple, I for ink, D for dog, again. I sounded them out in a whisper. The first part was easy: bond. The second part took a little longer, but then I remembered how the A and I went together. Maid.
As Esme grows older, the dictionary remains a mainstay in her life – but she is also interested in the words that are not included. Quotations in the early OED are disproportionately drawn from books by men – partly, of course, that books were disproportionately written by men. They also often represent upper- and middle-class authors. Esme – living as close to the servants as she does to her societal ‘equals’ – becomes interested in the words that are used by women and by working-class women in particular. She convinces a servant to accompany her through Oxford’s Covered Market, listening to the words of stallholders, noting down what they say on her own set of slips. While spoken sentences don’t ‘count’ for the OED, she stores them in her own treasure chest. She compiles her own dictionary of lost words.
I enjoyed all this dictionary stuff because I am fascinated by the creation of the dictionary – and by language, and by words. But Williams knows that not all her readers will find this sufficiently interesting – and The Dictionary of Lost Words incorporates a great deal more. Being set around the turn of the 20th century and following Esme as she grows older, we see all manner of contemporary issues – particularly the suffrage movement, and later the First World War. At times it does feel like Williams is ticking off the key contemporary topics – Esme is mistreated at boarding school, visits wounded soldiers, she goes to suffragist events, she is a lens for Stopes-esque sexual discovery etc. etc. It all works well, but I do wonder if a novel a hundred pages shorter with slightly less incident would have been even better.
In Esme, Williams has created a sympathetic, intelligent, rounded character that it’s a pleasure to spend time with – particularly for any likeminded reader who shares her fascination with words. Some of Williams’ attempts to de-patriarchy the dictionary are far from treading new ground – I mean, I did an undergraduate thesis on the same topic – but there’s no denying that turning it into an engaging novel is likely to reach a much wider audience. There aren’t really any villains here either (bar one sniffy lexicographer who doesn’t want Esme near the Scriptorium) and it’s a refreshingly sincere, well-researched and often heart-rending look at a fascinating time in history.
Oh dear! I just donated this novel to my local library, unread (too long). Now I wish I had kept it. Maybe I will buy it back at the library book sale. It wouldn’t be the first time.
Always the way! I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
I quite enjoyed this, but preferred another dictionary-behind-the-scenes novel I read the same year, The Liar’s Dictionary by Eley Williams, which switches between historical and contemporary settings and has a great sense of humour. There’s a companion novel to The Dictionary of Lost Words called The Bookbinder of Jericho that came out last year.
Oh interesting about the companion novel – it doesn’t really feel like one is needed, but I’ll still explore.
You are clearly an amazing book group member to put aside your prejudices and read not just historical fiction but also 400+ pages of it. The tick-boxes for contemporary topics sound frustrating but overall I’m still intrigued (though I’d be more intrigued to see what undergraduate Simon wrote in his thesis).
I do my best, but I have to admit to skipping some of them :D
Sounds very entertaining, Simon – dictionaries are fascinating things! And am impressed that you coped with the length!!!! 😂
A world without dictionaries is unthinkable, but what an exercise it was (and is!)
I bought a copy of this just before Book Depository closed down. I’ve wanted to read this for a while, but now I think that as soon as I finish reading my Classics Club spin book, I’ll pick this one up! Your review renewed my desire to read this. Thanks.!
Excellent! Hope you enjoy, Davida.
It’s nice to see you enjoying a historical novel, Simon. I still don’t understand how you can dismiss an entire category of books. There are plenty of bad ones, sure, but especially the last few years, there have been lots more of them, and some of them are very good. And I’ve noticed that often when you read one that’s been repeatedly recommended, you like it. Think about all those lovely and funny Georgette Heyers you have left to read. (The funny ones of hers are the best.) Maybe you should stop thinking you don’t like historical novels and decide that instead you are particular about the ones you read.
I liked this one, too. I didn’t think it was wonderful, but I enjoyed it.
I find dismissing categories of books (though ‘dismiss’ feels sad!) really helps me manage the fact that I can’t read all the books I want to read. Setting limits helps make it seem more manageable. (I tend not to write about the historical fiction books I read and dislike, which is most of the other ones that we do at book group!)
I absolutely adored The Dictionary of Lost Words and have read it twice (first on my Kindle and the second time for book club when I purchased the paperback and knew it was a ‘keeper’; I’d also bought an early hardback edition as a gift for someone and I’m slightly regretting not keeping it for myself). One of the many things I enjoyed was ‘meeting’ Mr Hart of Hart’s Rules.
Well, talk about timing! I picked this up from the charity book table in my local Booths (that’s a supermarket in the North for us Northerners) and debated getting it and then put it back. Should I pop by tomorrow to see if it’s still there? Should I wait and see if it’s still there next Saturday? Oh, the jeopardy! I share your reservations about ‘historical ‘ fiction that has a tick-list of issues to work though, especially when it compromises a good story. Meanwhile, I am currently reading Paying Guests by E F Benson on your recommendation. Enjoying it so far.
Love Booths! I have been to several in the Lake District that seem to have the vibe of garden centre gift shops, even when they’re selling cereal. I think you should grab it if poss! (But Paying Guests is far better IMO – such a delight.)
I’ve been sitting on the fence about this one for some time; I love dictionaries & words, but the laundry list of issues is a turn-off. Your excellent review is shaking my balance, but I’m not quite there yet (100 less pages and I’d probably be sold!).
Ha, yes, I think it would be an easier sell if trimmed!
I’ve had that book and the author on my radar for the same reason that I love words too. Her newest title is still very much in our area of interest, focusing on book binding and Oxford. Might let temptation win. Will keep her in mind next time I’m in a charity shop.
It became our highest-ever rated book at book group! I’d definitely recommend.
I haven’t read this one, but just recently read the “sequel” (not really a sequel as it’s about different characters), the Bookbinder of Jericho, and I really enjoyed it! It’s about fictional characters who worked in the bindery at OUP in the 1910s, and I learnt so much about how books were printed in the days before everything was done by machine. Fascinating! Also about the effects of the first world war on those back in England and how it changed society.
I didn’t know about that one, but sounds great too! I’d definitely be keen tor ead more.
Good book group member! I don’t like historical novels and I think I’d still rather read non-fiction on this. I also enjoyed The Liar’s Dictionary, though, as it’s totally made-up.
I try, though do miss some :D
I just finished reading this and I think you and I are in agreement about this book. Very enjoyable, memorable, even, but yes, a bit too long. I’ll be posting a review on my blog sometime next week.