🔤 Unearthing Herstory: Summary of The Dictionary of Lost Words
Introduction
Who decides what words are worthy of preservation? In The Dictionary of Lost Words, Pip Williams invites readers into a forgotten corner of history—where language, gender, and identity intertwine. Through a literary blend of fact and fiction, this novel gives voice to those silenced between the lines of the Oxford English Dictionary.
Book Presentation
Title: The Dictionary of Lost Words
Author: Pip Williams
Genre: Historical Fiction
Context: Set in late 19th- and early 20th-century Oxford, the novel offers a unique feminist perspective on the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary. It explores how language reflects social power and exclusion, especially of women’s voices.
Synopsis
The story follows Esme Nicoll, the daughter of a lexicographer, who grows up among the slips of paper and scholarly minds that build the Oxford English Dictionary. As Esme matures, she realizes that many words important to women’s lives are discarded or overlooked. She begins collecting these “lost” words—terms considered vulgar, colloquial, or unworthy of academic attention. Her journey leads her into relationships with market women, suffragettes, and printers, intertwining her personal growth with historical movements and the shifting role of women in society.
Summary of The Dictionary of Lost Words
The narrative of The Dictionary of Lost Words is structured around Esme’s personal and intellectual development. From a curious girl hiding under tables in the Scriptorium to a woman committed to preserving overlooked words, Esme’s life is shaped by the people she meets and the words she learns to cherish.
As Esme collects words deemed unfit for the dictionary, she forges connections with women outside the elite academic sphere—servants, actresses, suffragettes. Through their stories, she uncovers a richer, more inclusive understanding of language. Her project, ultimately titled The Dictionary of Lost Words, becomes a living record of marginalized voices.
The novel spans key events including the women’s suffrage movement and World War I. Personal loss, social upheaval, and growing awareness shape Esme’s mission to ensure that words tied to female experiences—words of emotion, pain, love, and labor—are not forgotten.
Summary of Main Chapters or Sections
- Bondmaid: Esme discovers the first discarded word and begins her lifelong collection.
- Scriptorium: Growing up among lexicographers, Esme starts hiding and preserving discarded word slips.
- Mabel: Esme meets a market vendor who exposes her to the beauty of colloquial speech.
- Ditte: A maternal figure and intellectual mentor who nurtures Esme’s love for words.
- Tilda: A radical actress and suffragette who challenges Esme’s worldview.
- Sisterhood: Esme grows politically conscious and embraces feminist solidarity.
- Gareth: A romantic interest who supports Esme’s linguistic curiosity and independence.
- War: World War I disrupts all lives and deepens Esme’s emotional and philosophical reflections.
- Mother: Esme revisits maternal absence and the women who filled that void.
- The Dictionary of Lost Words: Esme compiles her alternative dictionary, restoring dignity to forgotten words.
Main Characters and Brief Descriptions
- Esme Nicoll: Protagonist and amateur lexicographer dedicated to preserving forgotten words.
- James Murray: Chief editor of the OED and Esme’s father’s employer.
- Lizzie: Housemaid and Esme’s lifelong friend who represents working-class women’s voices.
- Ditte: Supportive friend of the family, a progressive influence on Esme.
- Tilda: Suffragette and actress who ignites Esme’s political awakening.
- Gareth: Compositor and Esme’s romantic partner, emotionally grounded and encouraging.
Book Analysis
Williams crafts a powerful intersection of language and identity, revealing how dictionaries—and by extension, culture—are curated by those in power. The novel critiques historical gatekeeping in lexicography while celebrating women’s resilience and linguistic creativity. Emotionally rich and intellectually sharp, the book is both a tribute to the power of words and a reclamation of female narrative.
Key Themes or Topics
- Feminist Linguistics: How language omits or devalues women’s experiences.
- Memory and Identity: Words as carriers of personal and collective memory.
- Social Hierarchy and Voice: Whose language gets recorded and validated.
- Love and Loss: Emotional anchors through war, death, and enduring bonds.
Memorable Quotes from the Book
- “Words are our tools of resurrection.”
- “Some words live in dictionaries, but others live in the heart.”
- “The words of women are the seeds of revolution.”
Personal Reflection
Reading The Dictionary of Lost Words feels like unlocking a hidden archive of humanity. It’s a novel that asks us to listen deeply—to voices often left out of history. The lyrical prose and emotional layers make it not just a story about words, but a story about power, silence, and reclamation. 🤍
Adaptations and Legacy of the Book
Cultural / Literary Influence
The novel has inspired conversations around feminist historiography, lexicography, and literary inclusion, resonating with linguists, feminists, and historical fiction readers.
Critical Reception Over Time
Critically acclaimed for its originality and depth, The Dictionary of Lost Words has been a book club favorite and a bestseller in several countries. Its nuanced themes continue to spark scholarly and popular engagement.
Who Is This Summary For?
Ideal for readers interested in language, feminism, and historical fiction. Perfect for those who’ve ever wondered what’s left unsaid in the making of official narratives—and who gets to define what matters.
Conclusion
Brief Recap of the Main Message
The Dictionary of Lost Words is a moving tale about the words we lose, the voices we overlook, and the power of reclaiming both.
Book’s Impact on Literature
A standout in historical fiction, the novel adds a feminist dimension to linguistic history and invites a rethinking of how language evolves.
About the Author
Pip Williams is an Australian author with a background in sociology and historical inquiry. Her debut novel blends meticulous research with evocative storytelling.
Estimated Reading Time
10–12 hours
Number of Pages
384 pages
External Source Link
The Dictionary of Lost Words – Official Publisher Page