Loved this book

I became enthralled with Esme’s story and her close relationship with her father and with Lizzie. It didn’t take much for me to be caught up in what Esme would contribute to our understanding of who we are as women and how culture has erased us for so many years. It’s women like Esme who created a world in which women can participate appropriately. The story, besides being historically important, was also very human and moving.

I just finished the audiobook version, and I was sorry it was over. Now I have read it page to page. The author combined a sensitivity toward women of a previous era with historical facts about how the first dictionary was created. There were some tender relationships which also kept my interest.

Beautifully written.

Who knew a book on the Oxford Dictionary Edition 1 (ostensibly) could be so captivating? The exploration of sexism in language, the harshness of Victorian England for women, even with a woman running the country, and the lovely characters are captivating. My only reason for not giving this a 5 is the last part of the book in wrapping things up simply is not worthy of the book.