As a huge fan of The Dictionary of Lost Words, I knew I needed to get my hands on Pip Williams’ newest release, The Bookbinder of Jericho. Not only is it a companion novel to the dearly beloved novel, but it has its own story rich with descriptive language, heart-aching relationships, raw emotion and a complex internal battle for identity and purpose.

As referenced in the blurb, The Bookbinder of Jericho explores a little-known slice of history seen through the eyes of women. It is evocative (I can attest to this), subversive and rich with unforgettable characters (most certainly). It is a story about knowledge – who gets to make it, who gets to access it, and what is lost when it is withheld. Set between 1914 and 1918, The Bookbinder of Jericho carries with it a sense of responsibility and significance, both of which support it as a book of high merit worthy of praise and popularity.

Pip Williams never makes things easy when it comes to tackling a read. There’s always something that tips me over the emotional scale with her work and this novel is no different. I don’t know what made me think that I would be able to hold back considering the themes at hand and Peggy’s relatable stoic yet loving nature. I was a fool to think my heart wouldn’t take a few hits as I journeyed through this novel. Peggy is a character that I cannot help but want more for, cannot help but wish the laws and norms of the world would break sooner to allow such an intelligent, curious mind to thrive. Throw in the realities of war, the wounded and the sick and the irreparable change that comes with it, and I was a goner.

Systematic sexism, ageism and elitism are touch points of this novel which I think have been handled beautifully to illustrate life in the mid-1910s. There is also a bit of racism, though that comes hand-in-hand with the grief of loss and the impact of war so it’s difficult to say if it is a theme that was meant to be addressed or a topic of circumstance. There is also a strong investigation into a woman’s place, as mentioned previously. This is shown through the viewpoint of Peggy, our main character, and it manifests more as a need to do something to help than a direct critique of the times which is interesting given we have a few characters who run in the suffragette circles so we don’t lose the perspective completely. We also have a complex family commitment that throws Peggy into the depths of her woes in regards to helping, a complexity that sits near the heart of the novel.

For such a sensitive timeframe, and more sensitive experiences tied to the events surrounding the novel, the novel has respect for all sides, even those directly at odds with the progression of women’s rights and societal norms. There is an understanding of perspective, tradition and teaching that has been passed down for generations, but there is also change and new opportunities. This novel has a bit of everything and I honestly want to boot myself for delaying my full reading experience. I have a strong love for the Dictionary of Lost Words, but I will not deny that The Bookbinder of Jericho is as poignant of a read and as gut-wrenching as its predecessor.