The Dictionary of Lost Words

A Novel

De: Pip Williams

Narrado por: Pippa Bennett-Warner

Duración: 11 h y 11 m

Resumen del Editor

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK • “Delightful . . . [a] captivating and slyly subversive fictional paean to the real women whose work on the Oxford English Dictionary went largely unheralded.”—The New York Times Book Review

“A marvelous fiction about the power of language to elevate or repress.”—Geraldine Brooks, New York Times bestselling author of People of the Book

Esme is born into a world of words. Motherless and irrepressibly curious, she spends her childhood in the Scriptorium, an Oxford garden shed in which her father and a team of dedicated lexicographers are collecting words for the very first Oxford English Dictionary. Young Esme’s place is beneath the sorting table, unseen and unheard. One day a slip of paper containing the word bondmaid flutters beneath the table. She rescues the slip and, learning that the word means “slave girl,” begins to collect other words that have been discarded or neglected by the dictionary men.

As she grows up, Esme realizes that words and meanings relating to women’s and common folks’ experiences often go unrecorded. And so she begins in earnest to search out words for her own dictionary: the Dictionary of Lost Words. To do so she must leave the sheltered world of the university and venture out to meet the people whose words will fill those pages.

Set during the height of the women’s suffrage movement and with the Great War looming, The Dictionary of Lost Words reveals a lost narrative, hidden between the lines of a history written by men. Inspired by actual events, author Pip Williams has delved into the archives of the Oxford English Dictionary to tell this highly original story. The Dictionary of Lost Words is a delightful, lyrical, and deeply thought-provoking celebration of words and the power of language to shape the world.

WINNER OF THE AUSTRALIAN BOOK INDUSTRY AWARD

©2021 Pip Williams (P)2021 Random House Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

"A beautiful exploration of history and the power of language. For anybody who loves words and celebrates them, this subversive story weaves together love, loss and literature in a perfectly lyrical way.”—Reese Witherspoon (Reese’s Book Club May ’22 Pick)

“This remarkable novel tries to rectify a glaring oversight in the historical accounts of the first Oxford English Dictionary—the contributions of women . . . without whom the English language wouldn’t have evolved as fully and colorfully as it has.”—Boston magazine

“Enchanting, sorrowful, and wonderfully written, the book is a one-of-a-kind celebration of language and its importance in our lives. A must-have.”—Library Journal (starred review)

Enchanted

Thinking about writing a review for this glorious book was very difficult for me because of the use of language throughout the entire story. In my wildest dreams I would not have concocted a story with so much depth, compassion, empathy — tinged with an historical narrative. The syntax, the use of punctuation, the glorious resilience of words and definitions, brought this story to life. There are no superfluous characters in the book, no unnecessary fillers, no miss step in regaling the glory of words and the confluence of definitions in the moments they are spoken. A great reverence is paid to the genesis of the women’s movement - undyingly beautiful. There are innumerable quotable passages throughout the narrative – so many that I was underlining, and underlining, and underlining - deciding instead to allow the next reader to revel in the superb language. Lizzie, Esme, Dita, Dah, Gareth, Lily, Professor Murray, Tilda. Bert, Angus — all people I wanted to know and have in my life. Following the process of the suffragette movement and the start of WWII, added depth and emotion. I highly recommend this book!!!

Unexpectedly whimsical yet wise

I did not expect a novel based on the Oxford English Dictionary to be whimsical as well as educational. Although that sounds like a contradiction, I stand by it. Author Pip Williams blends Women's Suffrage and the prelude to WWI in the retelling of how the Oxford Dictionary was created, and in doing so, she illuminates how the words we use or neglect color the world we live in. The Dictionary of Lost Words encapsulates everything I love about historical fiction: neglected lessons on the world experienced through the eyes of beautifully woven characters.

Loved it

The author’s love for language is evident throughout this story. Many characters to love and a true story behind it all. The reader is superb.

Beautiful.

This is a wonderful story about the love of language, the rhythmic and precise beauty of academia, the challenges of being a woman in a man’s world, and the bonds between friends and family. The narrator makes this book absolutely irresistible. Soothing, sometimes melancholic, this book drew me inside Esme’s world and I was completely captivated. Pip Williams is a wonder, never wasting a syllable and choosing the perfect words and phrases on every page. Pippa Bennett-Warner is a gifted storyteller. I could listen to her all day, every day. I could not live this book more.

No words

It is difficult to describe how wonderful this book is. Ironic, too, since the book is all about words. I just know that it will become a title I return to in time to come - and what higher accolade can any book aspire to in one’s personal library? I think the narrator did an amazing job, until the Australian accents at the end. Not terrible, but not quite right. Still, a difficult performance to fault and it certainly added to my enjoyment of this book.

A Good Read

Glad that I finished the book. Got stopped about midway through. Give it a read.

Brava, Pip Williams

Superb story and narration. Strong recommendation. Looking forward to her next book. Another collaboration with Pippa Bennett-Warner would be marvelous.

Historical fiction relevant for today

Diversity, equity and inclusion demands multiple sources and most importantly single sources for information. Words demand this too!

Enjoyed the history and the women!

The story started off slow, but then I really got into the story. I loved all the different women and their stories and words and struggles. There are as many different types and characters of women as there are "lost words". The narrarator was great.

Fantastic

I've noticed myself asking others to explain a word that I don't immediately know in conversation since listening to this book. Narrated beautifully and knowing that some accounts were true after listening to the Author's note made me love this book even more.