A concise overview of Pip Williams’s novel typically covers the story of Esme, a young girl growing up amidst the creation of the first Oxford English Dictionary. It highlights her fascination with words, particularly those omitted from the dictionary because they were considered unimportant or belonged primarily to the experiences of women and marginalized groups. Such an overview will likely touch on the novel’s exploration of language, gender, and social class in early 20th-century England, and may mention the “lost words” Esme collects and their significance.
Providing this encapsulated view offers a valuable entry point into the novel’s rich themes. It allows potential readers to quickly grasp the core narrative and central ideas, sparking interest and encouraging deeper engagement with the full text. Historically, the novels backdrop sheds light on the lexicographical process and raises questions about whose voices and experiences are represented in historical records and language itself. Condensed accounts of this work serve to disseminate these important considerations to a wider audience.
