The Dictionary of Lost Words: A REESE WITHERSPOON BOOK CLUB PICK

Pip Williams

Apr 2021 · Random House

About this ebook

'An enchanting story about love, loss and the power of language' Elizabeth Macneal, author of The Doll Factory

Sometimes you have to start with what's lost to truly find yourself...

Motherless and irrepressibly curious, Esme spends her childhood at her father's feet as he and his team gather words for the very first Oxford English Dictionary.

One day, she sees a slip of paper containing a forgotten word flutter to the floor unclaimed.

And so Esme begins to collect words for another dictionary in secret: The Dictionary of Lost Words. But to do so she must journey into a world on the cusp of change as the Great War looms and women fight for the vote. Can the power of lost words from the past finally help her make sense of her future?

'A brilliant book about women and words - tender, moving and profound' Jacqueline Wilson

Readers LOVE The Dictionary of Lost Words:

'If you only read one book this year, let it be this one!'
'If you're a fan of The Binding and The Betrayals you will surely love this'
'A glorious combination of words, growing up, friendship, love, feminism and so much more'
'The best love letter to words and language'
'This book broke my heart ... I highly recommend it to any historical fiction fans ... it's one I will be reading again'

Ratings and reviews

The title intrigued me and the blurb drew me in. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and its twists and turns of fate. I felt a real love for Es and dear Lizzy as their lives unfolded. There was no sex, murder or mystery, just a beautifully told story of words that I couldn't put down. Bravo

If anyone asks me to gift them my favourite book, this would be it.

Delightful read about a topic I did not know much about.

About the author

Pip Williams was born in London, grew up in Sydney and now calls the Adelaide Hills home. She is the author of the much-loved memoir One Italian Summer and the national number one bestseller, The Dictionary of Lost Words, which was shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize 2021. Pip has also published travel articles, book reviews, flash fiction and poetry.