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The Dictionary of Lost Words

Author	Pip Williams
Cover artist	Lisa White
Language	English
Genre	Novel
Publisher	Affirm Press, South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Publication date	31 March 2020
Publication place	Australia
Media type	Print (Paperback)
Pages	384
ISBN	9781925972597

The Dictionary of Lost Words is the debut novel by Australian writer Pip Williams, published in March 2020. It became a bestseller in Australia and was also a New York Times bestseller. It won several literary prizes in 2021, and has been published in several languages in other countries.

Plot summary

Esme's mother died giving her birth, so she is brought up by her father. She spends her childhood under the table in the Scriptorium, where James Murray and his team of lexicographers, including her father, are compiling the Oxford English Dictionary. Over time she discovers that words in common use, particularly those used by and about women, are not included.

The list of characters includes Edith Thompson; in the novel, she is Esme's godmother and surrogate aunt.

Publication

The Dictionary of Lost Words was published in March 2020 by Affirm Press in Melbourne.

Formats

In addition to being published in standard formats (paperback, ebook, audio book), a dyslexic edition is available. By March 2023 more than 260,000 copies of the printed book had been sold in Australia and New Zealand, and 400,000 in total with ebooks and audio. Print sales were just below 260,000 in the U.S., after Reese Witherspoon had selected it for her book club. It is also published in another 30 territories.

Reception

The Dictionary of Lost Words was sixth on the list of Australian fiction bestsellers for 2020. As of 18 January 2021 it had sold more than 100,000 copies, and by 2023 had sold 300,000 copies in Australia as well as having many translations published in other countries. It also became a New York Times bestseller, and was the first Australian novel to be selected for Reese Witherspoon's Book Club.

In reviewing the book for The Sydney Morning Herald, Jo Case says "In The Dictionary of Lost Words, Pip Williams combines the storytelling scale and intimate detail of a 19th-century novel with the sensibility of now – and a cast of richly realised characters and relationships that are a pleasure to spend time with". A write-up in the Kirkus Reviews said that "The result is a satisfying amalgam of truth and historical fiction". Other reviewers discussed the novel's elevation of language, with Book Reporter referring to it as "the novel have been waiting for without even realizing it" and Booklover Book Reviews saying it "reminds us of the power of words, to harm and control, but also to bridge gaps, to empower and to bring about change for the better".

Awards

Adaptations

• A stage adaption of the book, scripted by South Australian playwright Verity Laughton in consultation with Williams, was produced by the State Theatre Company of South Australia and the Sydney Theatre Company, directed by Jessica Arthur. After premiering at the Dunstan Playhouse in Adelaide on 22 September 2023, the play had a season at the Sydney Opera House. South Australian actor Tilda Cobham-Hervey played Esme.
• It was announced in November 2022 that a collaboration between filmmakers Lisa Scott of Highview Productions and Rebecca Summerton of Closer Productions (who in 2019 collaborated on The Hunting) had bought the rights to adapt the book for a television series. Williams is co-executive producer, along with Alex Dimos and Andrew Nunn, while Anton Andreacchio is producer of the series.

References

1. ^ Case, Jo (8 May 2020). "A few words in your ear about gender, dictionaries and kindness". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
2. "A Thought-Provoking Novel that Revels in the Power of Words". Penguin Random House. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
3. ^ Abadee, Nicole (2023). "What Pip did next". State Library of New South Wales. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
4. Williams, Pip (2020), The dictionary of lost words (Dyslexic edition), ReadHowYouWant, retrieved 23 March 2021
5. Steger, Jason (17 March 2023). "The Bookbinder of Jericho: Pip Williams opens a new page on the world of her bestselling novel". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
6. "Dalton, Pape, Bluey top Australian bestsellers 2020". Books+Publishing. 17 March 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
7. "'The Dictionary of Lost Words' cracks 100k". Books+Publishing. 18 January 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
8. "The Dictionary of Lost Words". Kirkus Reviews. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
9. "The Dictionary of Lost Words". Book Reporter. 23 April 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
10. "The Dictionary of Lost Words, Review: Thought-provoking". Booklover Book Reviews. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
11. "The 2020 ARA Historical Novel Prize | HNSA". hnsa.org.au. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
12. "'Phosphorescence' wins 2021 ABIA Book of the Year". Books+Publishing. 28 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
13. "Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Best Historical Fiction!". Goodreads. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
14. ^ "'The Dictionary of Lost Words' wins 2021 Indie Book of the Year". Books+Publishing. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
15. IGO (9 November 2021). "The Dictionary of Lost Words". Dublin Literary Award. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
16. "Williams wins 2021 MUD Literary Prize". Books+Publishing. 23 February 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
17. "NSW Premier's Literary Awards 2021 shortlists announced". Books+Publishing. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
18. "NSW Premier's Literary Awards 2021 winners announced". Books+Publishing. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
19. "'Eight jobs at once and no sick days': $60,000 prizes a welcome relief for young writer". www.abc.net.au. 26 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
20. Steger, Jason (5 March 2021). "Great Scott, here come the Australian novelists". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
21. "Australians comprise majority of Walter Scott Prize shortlist". Books+Publishing. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
22. ^ Keen, Suzie (15 September 2023). "From the scriptorium to the stage: The Dictionary of Lost Words comes to life". InReview. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
23. ^ "'The Dictionary of Lost Words' to be adapted for TV". Books+Publishing. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
24. Keen, Suzie (17 October 2022). "Bestseller bound for Adelaide stage in State Theatre's 2023 season". InDaily. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
25. Washington, David (27 September 2023). "Theatre review: The Dictionary of Lost Words". InReview. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
26. Smith, Matthew (19 September 2023). "Australian actor Tilda Cobham-Hervey to star lead role in The Dictionary Of Lost Words". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 19 September 2023.
27. Keen, Suzie (10 November 2022). "Bestseller The Dictionary of Lost Words set to become a television series". InDaily. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
28. Whittock, Jesse (9 November 2022). "'The Dictionary Of Lost Words': 'The Tourist' Co-Producer Highview Productions And Closer Productions To Adapt Pip Williams' Bestselling Novel As Series". Deadline. Retrieved 16 November 2022.

• 2020 Australian novels
• 2020 debut novels
• Lexicographers
• Novels set during World War I