The captivating new novel from the internationally-bestselling author of The Dictionary of Lost Words.

'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.

Sometimes you have to start with what's lost to truly find yourself...

Motherless and irrepressibly curious, Esme spends her childhood at her father's feet as he and his team gather words for the very first Oxford English Dictionary. One day, she sees a slip of paper containing a forgotten word flutter to the floor unclaimed. And so Esme begins to collect words for another dictionary in secret: The Dictionary of Lost Words. But to do so she must journey into a world on the cusp of change as the Great War looms and women fight for the vote.

Can the power of lost words from the past finally help her make sense of her future?

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

- The books in this set centre around the mindfulness practice of being with emotions and experiences - allowing them to be - as opposed to teaching strategies to manage or fix them. - Beginning 2020, all pupils in primary school will be taught about the importance of mental wellbeing. This resource provides the perfect starting place for these conversations. - No training or understanding of psychology is needed to use the books. They are uncomplicated, relying on the simplicity of listening and open-ended creativity.

The books in this set centre around the mindfulness practice of being with emotions and experiences - allowing them to be - as opposed to teaching strategies to manage or fix them. Beginning 2020, all pupils in primary school will be taught about the importance of mental wellbeing. This resource provides the perfect starting place for these conversations. No training or understanding of psychology is needed to use the books. They are uncomplicated, relying on the simplicity of listening and open-ended creativity.

The books in this set centre around the mindfulness practice of being with emotions and experiences - allowing them to be - as opposed to teaching strategies to manage or fix them. Beginning 2020, all pupils in primary school will be taught about the importance of mental wellbeing. This resource provides the perfect starting place for these conversations. No training or understanding of psychology is needed to use the books. They are uncomplicated, relying on the simplicity of listening and open-ended creativity.

The books in this set centre around the mindfulness practice of being with emotions and experiences - allowing them to be - as opposed to teaching strategies to manage or fix them. Beginning 2020, all pupils in primary school will be taught about the importance of mental wellbeing. This resource provides the perfect starting place for these conversations. No training or understanding of psychology is needed to use the books. They are uncomplicated, relying on the simplicity of listening and open-ended creativity.

The books in this set centre around the mindfulness practice of being with emotions and experiences - allowing them to be - as opposed to teaching strategies to manage or fix them. Beginning 2020, all pupils in primary school will be taught about the importance of mental wellbeing. This resource provides the perfect starting place for these conversations. No training or understanding of psychology is needed to use the books. They are uncomplicated, relying on the simplicity of listening and open-ended creativity.

The books in this set centre around the mindfulness practice of being with emotions and experiences - allowing them to be - as opposed to teaching strategies to manage or fix them. Beginning 2020, all pupils in primary school will be taught about the importance of mental wellbeing. This resource provides the perfect starting place for these conversations. No training or understanding of psychology is needed to use the books. They are uncomplicated, relying on the simplicity of listening and open-ended creativity.