The Dictionary of Lost Words - Book Review

 

The Dictionary of Lost Words

Pip Williams

4.5 stars

A wonderful historic story of the creation of the first Oxford English Dictionary, and the words that were omitted.
 
Even as a little girl, Esme recognizes  that these discarded words, from the everyday woman are not included and will be forgotten. 

Surrounded with an array of characters that teach her the importance of the words that they use each day.  She realizes that the words will disappear unless she saves them. And so for many years she saves the 'slips', makes her own, and creates a world where the lives of people are documented by the feelings behind their words.

...and when some kind of peace had been struck, 

I’d begun to listen to the valley 

like some would listen to music or a holy chant. 

There was solace in its rhythm, 

and it slowed the beat of my heart.

There is so much beauty in this book, the emotions are immense but subdued, the pain is deep but borne with stoicism, the future although bleak always has hope. It was worth a slow read because the words were chosen with care.

Set at a time in history when not much contribution was expected of women, and the emergence of having a voice to vote, get an education, and ‘behave like a man’ were considered unseemly. Esme, Lizzie, Ditte, the Murray sisters, Tilde, and many other women learn and gain strength in their individual journeys.

In time you will get used to us, 

and I wondered if she was referring to us three, 

or to the whole of womankind.

But it is not a book only to be read by women, there are many strong male characters, it speaks to the politics of the time, has some explanations of the printing business that were included which anyone would find fascinating.

This is a book that will be appreciated by any word-lover, and is well-researched and meaty enough to satisfy the curious among us. 

It is a valuable look at the makings of what we commonly take for granted, the words we use to express ourselves and how each one has several meanings.

I waited a long while to get my hands on this book and each page offered a surprise.

Ah, it will be hard to leave these characters behind.


 

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