The Dictionary of Lost Words is the story of Esme Nicoll, who works alongside her father in The Scriptorium, where words are being compiled and assessed for inclusion in the First Oxford English Dictionary. Over several years, Esme gathers together a trunkful of words that are either excluded or never considered for the Dictionary. These are essentially women's words - words that the men who control the dictionary would never consider. Many years later, Esme's gathered words are published into the novel entitled Women's Words and Their Meanings, after Esme's collection is passed onto a typesetter at the Press. Esme's theory that 'all words are not equal' is confirmed when she presents a copy of the novel to the editor who takes over Sir James Murray after his death. He rejects the volume as unscholarly and not a 'topic of importance'. The Dictionary of Lost Words is Pip William's first work of fiction. She has previously written a memoir, entitled One Italian Summer, that detailed her move to Italy with her partner Shannon and their children. The Dictionary of Lost Words was heavily endorsed by Aussie author Thomas Kenneally earlier this year when he said he was certain that a "more original" novel "will not be published this year". Although Pip is an Aussie author, the book is headed for worldwide release - it will be published by The Great House which published Mark Twain and Huxley - whose works, ironically, helped shaped the first Oxford Dictionary which is covered in the book
