The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams - 4 stars

[ShazM]

When the first Oxford English Dictionary is being compiled in the late 19th century 6 year old Esme is beneath the table in the Scriptorium watching the men sorting words and assigning meanings to them. As she grows up, Esme becomes aware of the women's suffrage movement and the differences in prospects for men and women but also between different classes of women. Esme starts her own collection of words about women or used by women, many of which don't make it into the official dictionary or have slightly different definitions from the men's.

This books covers the period between the late 1800s up to the first World War and portrays Esme's life against the backdrop of the dictionary and is a particularly interesting read right now when we seem to be having some problems with women's words again. I did enjoy the book but I've docked it one star because I found it almost overwhelmingly sad although I think it was probably meant to at least be hopeful.