Wirral Libraries Bookbuzz discussion

Part fact, part fiction, this brilliant novel follows the fictional Esme, daughter of a lexicographer, as she rescues the slips of words discarded by the, mainly male, compilers of the Oxford English Dictionary. Many of these words deemed not suitable for inclusion, related to women and their verbalising of the restrictive world they inhabited, or the uneducated poor, whose unique vocabulary was alien to these very learned gentlemen. There are female contributors and assistants, but it was the middle class, middle aged men, who made the final decision on what was appropriate for inclusion. In this way they controlled language, and by doing so controlled the voices of women and the poor. Esme becomes a magpie, hoarding these words and saving them from being lost to the world.

Some of the characters, such as James Murray, the famous lexicographer, and his family, are real, whilst others like Esme are pure fiction, but the two have been blended seamlessly. The rich blend of historical accuracy and imaginary characters tells a powerful tale of knowledge, with a very intimately revealed but colourful cast.

The work of the Scriptorium and the Press, are explained in quite a lot of detail and provide a fascinating insight into the publication of the original fascicles of the OED. The amount of research that has gone into this book is evident throughout.

The work on the dictionary is set against the backdrop of the rising suffragette movement, and the First World War. Both events impacted on the role of women and the poor in society, making the preservation of their words and meaning, all the more poignant. Even here though, there is a clear demarcation between the classes. Lizzie the maid doesn’t support the suffragettes as they are fighting for older, middle class women, and their needs are far removed from the needs of a poor orphan girl, who is grateful to have the position she holds, knowing that the alternatives are few for a girl like her.

I cannot recommend this book enough to anyone who is interested in words and women. Beautifully written and easy to read, this is the story of a time that changed the world, for the poor, for women and for the men who tried to control their words. Viewed through the eyes of a girl who recognises that the discarded words deserve recognition, as she matures and grows, in a world that was finally allowing women to have a voice.