Description

As World War One brings women unexpected new freedoms, bookbinder Peggy has the chance at a new future.

‘Vivid and moving … I absolutely loved it!’ Ruth Hogan, author of The Keeper of Lost Things
‘Charming, original and beautifully researched’ Rachel Hore, author of A Beautiful Spy

‘When the men leave for the Western Front, Peggy and her friends must shoulder the burden at home.

As she moves between her narrowboat full of memories and the demands of the bookbindery where she works, Peggy’s dreams of escaping for a new life feel ever more remote.

But the war brings people together in unexpected ways. New friends and lovers offer new opportunities but also present difficult choices – and Peggy must write her own story.

‘A fresh, exciting new voice in historical fiction’ Paula McLain, author of The Paris Wife
‘A compelling homage to the transformational power of books’ Daisy Wood, author of The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris

Dictionary of Lost Words, Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick, May 2022

Publisher Review

‘A wonderful book, whose vividly-drawn characters tell the story of a pivotal period in women’s history as they work behind the scenes in the bindery of the Oxford University Press. I could almost smell the ink and hear the whisper of the pages being folded, as the novel followed their traumas and their triumphs against the harrowing backdrop of the First World War.’ * Fiona Valpy, author of The Dressmaker’s Gift. * An immersive and compelling tale … Williams is a fresh, exciting new voice in historical fiction. I can’t wait to see what she does next * Paula McLain, author of The Paris Wife and When the Stars Go Dark * A compelling, beautifully written homage to the transformational power of books, set against the tragic backdrop of the First World War. * Daisy Wood, author of The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris * Confident and considered … Williams fully inhabits the world of the bindery and it shows – there’s hardly a page out of place * The Guardian * Vibrant, socially astute historical fiction, it’s laden with details sure to enthral bibliophiles * Mail on Sunday *