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"The Dictionary of Lost Words" by Pip Williams is a historical fiction novel that tells the story of a young girl named Esme Nicoll, who grows up in the shadows of the Oxford English Dictionary, and eventually becomes a lexicographer. The novel takes place in the early 20th century, in a time when the roles of women were still limited, and the suffrage movement was gaining momentum. The story explores themes of language, identity, gender, and power.The novel is structured around the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary, which was being compiled during Esme's childhood. Esme's father works as an assistant to James Murray, the editor of the dictionary, and Esme spends much of her childhood playing in the Scriptorium, where the dictionary is being compiled. It is here that she begins to collect the "lost words" that will become the focus of her life's work.One of the central themes of the novel is the power of language. The Oxford English Dictionary is seen as a symbol of this power, as it aims to document and define every word in the English language. Esme becomes obsessed with the idea of preserving the words that are left out of the dictionary, the words that are spoken by people who are marginalized or ignored. She sees these words as a way of preserving the stories and experiences of those who are excluded from mainstream culture.Esme's journey as a lexicographer is also a journey of self-discovery. She grapples with questions of identity and belonging throughout the novel. As a young girl, she is fascinated by the Scriptorium and the world of words, but she is often excluded from it because of her gender. Later, she finds herself torn between the world of academia and the world of activism, and struggles to find a place where she can be true to herself.One of the most powerful aspects of the novel is its exploration of gender and power. Esme's mother is a suffragette, and her experiences are contrasted with those of her father and the male lexicographers she encounters. The novel shows how language can be used to exclude and marginalize women, and how the suffrage movement was a response to this marginalization. Esme's journey as a lexicographer is also a way of reclaiming power and agency for herself and for the women whose words she collects.Throughout the novel, Williams uses vivid, evocative language to bring the world of the Scriptorium to life. The descriptions of the lexicographers at work, the smell of the ink and the paper, and the feel of the words themselves all serve to create a rich, immersive world for the reader. The novel is also full of playful wordplay and linguistic puzzles, which add to the sense of joy and wonder that permeates the book.Overall, "The Dictionary of Lost Words" is a beautifully written and deeply moving novel that explores the power of language to shape our understanding of the world and ourselves. Through the character of Esme Nicoll, Williams shows us how language can both exclude and include, how it can be a tool of oppression and a tool of liberation. The novel is a celebration of the beauty and complexity of language, and a tribute to all those whose words have been lost or forgotten.