The Dictionary of Lost Words: Reese's Book Club

Imagine a world where words are meticulously collected, yet so many are left behind. This is the world young Esme inhabits, growing up in the Scriptorium as her father contributes to the very first Oxford English Dictionary. Hidden beneath the sorting table, she discovers a forgotten word, bondmaid, and a profound realization: the language of women and common folk is being excluded.

The Dictionary of Lost Words, a captivating novel by Pip Williams, promises a journey into this hidden narrative. Inspired by the real history of the Oxford English Dictionary, this book brings to life Esme's quest to gather the words that matter most, venturing beyond the university walls during the pivotal era of the women's suffrage movement and the looming Great War.

This acclaimed work is a New York Times Best Seller and a Reese's Book Club Pick. It has also been honored with the WINNER OF THE AUSTRALIAN BOOK INDUSTRY AWARD. It is a masterful piece of Historical Fiction and Literary Fiction, celebrated for its lyrical prose and thought-provoking exploration of language's power.