Pip Williams revisits the Oxford University Press and the themes of World War I and rights for women in The Bookbinder. Again, she shows her skill as a storyteller.
Peg Jones has grown up around the Oxford University Press, but she’s a representative of town rather than gown. She works at the press as a bookbinder, but she has always yearned for more education and an opportunity to attend Somerset, the women’s college. Aside from the social and educational restrictions, she has been held back by a feeling of responsibility for her special needs identical twin sister Maude.
World War I has just started, and Peg gets an opportunity to apply for one of the positions on the men’s side, but she doesn’t take it. In a link back to The Dictionary of Lost Words, Peg helps Esme’s lover bind a printed copy of her collection of women’s words.
After the invasion of Belgium, Belgian women come to work at the press, and Maude becomes close to one of them, Lotte. Peg goes to volunteer at the hospital and is teamed a reader/letter writer with Gwen Lumley, an upper-class girl who becomes her friend.
Peg is torn between her feeling of responsibility for Maude and her resentment of it. She is both grateful to Lotte for helping with Maude and jealous.
Her contact with Gwen along with the help of her supervisor, Mrs. Stoddard, leads her to an opportunity to apply for a scholarship to Somerset. But she must pass two series of exams.
Williams is skillful at involving readers with her characters’ ups and downs as well as their self-development. I enjoyed this novel very much.
What? Me Read? 
This does sound good, but I still need to read The Dictionary of Lost Words first!
Well, the second makes some reference to the first, but not very much. I think you could read them in any order. The second one is slightly later than the first.
Hmm, not sure the story appeals much, but I’m intrigued by the look at the OUP back in those days.
I liked The Dictionary of Lost Words slightly better.
I bought The Dictionary of Lost Words, maybe on your recommendation, and will read that one first. If I like it, I will go on to this one which also sounds interesting.
I think you’ll like both. Happy reading!