From the author of the Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick, The Dictionary of Lost Words

Williams, Pip | Paperback / softback | 05-07-2023 | 9781784745196

As World War One draws in over Oxford, it brings women unexpected new freedoms. Peggy, working as a bookbinder, has the chance of a new future. But will the chaos of war force her to choose between duty and her dreams?

‘A wonderful book, whose vividly-drawn characters tell the story of a pivotal period in women’s history’ Fiona Valpy, author of The Dressmaker’s Gift

‘Your job is to bind the books, not read them.’

When the men of Oxford University Press leave for the Western Front, Peggy, her twin sister Maude and their friends in the bookbindery must shoulder the burden at home. As Peggy moves between her narrowboat full of memories and the demands of the Press, her dreams of studying feel ever more remote. She must know her place, fold her pages and never stop to savour the precious words in front of her.

From volunteer nurses to refugees fleeing the horrors of occupation, the war brings women together from all walks of life, and with them some difficult choices for Peggy. New friends and lovers offer new opportunities, but they also make new demands – and Peggy must write her own story.

‘Vivid and moving … I absolutely loved it!’ Ruth Hogan, author of The Keeper of Lost Things

‘Charming, original and beautifully researched’ Rachel Hore, author of A Beautiful Spy

‘A fresh, exciting new voice in historical fiction’ Paula McLain, author of The Paris Wife

‘A compelling homage to the transformational power of books’ Daisy Wood, author of The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris