Description

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

‘A wonderful book’ Fiona Valpy, author of The Dressmaker’s Gift

‘Your job is to bind the books, not read them.’

When the men of Oxford University Press leave for the Western Front, Peggy, her twin sister Maude and their friends in the bookbindery must shoulder the burden at home. As Peggy moves between her narrowboat full of memories and the demands of the Press, her dreams of studying feel ever more remote. She must know her place, fold her pages and never stop to savour the precious words in front of her.

From volunteer nurses to refugees fleeing the horrors of occupation, the war brings women together from all walks of life, and with them some difficult choices for Peggy. New friends and lovers offer new opportunities, but they also make new demands – and Peggy must write her own story.

‘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

‘A fresh, exciting new voice in historical fiction’ Paula McLain, author of The Paris Wife

Publisher Review

A compelling story, beautifully told and full of vibrant characters. It's such a vivid and moving account of how the war brought not only horror and deprivation, but for some - especially women - new freedoms and opportunities which they were reluctant to give up once the fighting had ended. I absolutely loved it! * Ruth Hogan, author of The Keeper of Lost Things * What a charming, original and beautifully researched historical novel. It nails the problems facing female ambition in a man's world a century ago in such a vivid way that it speaks to us still * Rachel Hore, author of A Beautiful Spy * '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 *