Summaries The Dictionary of Lost Words Pip Williams

November 1907: Esme's Words and the World Beyond the Scriptorium

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

In November 1907, Esme and Lizzie return from Shropshire to Oxford. The warmth of their time away feels like a distant memory against the November chill. At Sunnyside, they part ways beneath the ash tree, embracing not as mistress and servant but as equals and friends. Lizzie cautions Esme against dwelling on past choices, but Esme cannot offer the reassurance Lizzie seeks.

Esme returns to the Scriptorium, which feels smaller and more crowded than before. Three new assistants have joined: Mr. Cushing and Mr. Pope, two university students, and Mr. Dankworth, a meticulous and reserved editor whose desk has been placed perpendicular to Esme's, blocking her view and her sense of privacy. Dr. Murray assigns Esme the etymology of prophesy, a task originally given to Mr. Cushing, who has strayed from the correct path.

The two students are overly attentive, rising whenever Esme or the Murray daughters enter and competing to offer compliments. Dr. Murray rebukes them, noting that their constant flattery does a disservice to the English language. Mr. Dankworth, by contrast, is cold and distant. He refuses to call Esme by her first name, ignores her requests to reclaim her desk, and builds a wall of books along the edge of his desk, effectively screening her off.

One evening, Da raises the subject of marriage. He admits he has failed to arrange Esme's future and that he is unsure how to fix things. Esme tells him she has made choices, including the choice not to seek marriage. She asks him to keep loving her and to promise not to try to fix things. Da agrees, though a sadness clouds his eyes as he edits the future he had imagined for her.

As the weeks pass, Mr. Dankworth begins scrutinising Esme's work. He rewrites her corrections, claiming her syntax is unclear, and burns her original slips. At Christmas, the Scriptorium empties. Mr. Sweatman reports that Cushing and Pope have left by mutual agreement, and he suggests that Mr. Dankworth move to the sorting table, which would restore Esme's privacy. Mr. Dankworth refuses, saying he has established ways of working that would be disturbed.

In spring, Esme discovers that Mr. Dankworth has altered several of Da's entries on proofs, drawing ruler-straight lines through Da's original edits and rewriting them. She restores Da's versions, but when she comes to an entry for mother, she hesitates. The proof already gives the first meaning as A female parent, but Mr. Dankworth has added A woman who has given birth to a child. Esme leaves it.

Key Events

  • Esme and Lizzie return from Shropshire and part ways at Sunnyside, embracing as friends.

  • Esme returns to the Scriptorium to find three new assistants: Mr. Cushing, Mr. Pope, and Mr. Dankworth.

  • Dr. Murray assigns Esme the etymology of prophesy.

  • Mr. Pope and Mr. Cushing are overly attentive, prompting Dr. Murray to rebuke them.

  • Da raises the subject of marriage, admitting he failed to arrange Esme's future.

  • Esme tells Da she chose not to marry and asks him to keep loving her.

  • Mr. Dankworth begins rewriting Esme's corrections and burning her originals.

  • At Christmas, the Scriptorium empties; Mr. Sweatman reports Cushing and Pope have left.

  • Mr. Sweatman suggests Mr. Dankworth move to the sorting table, but he refuses.

  • In spring, Esme discovers Mr. Dankworth has altered several of Da's entries on proofs and restores them, but leaves his addition to mother.

Character Development

Esme returns from Shropshire changed. She is no longer the charge Lizzie must look after; she is a friend, an equal. She has made peace with some of her choices, though not all, and she is learning to assert herself in the face of new challenges. Her confrontation with Mr. Dankworth over her desk and her work shows a growing willingness to stand her ground, even when the odds are against her.

Da reveals a vulnerability that has been present but unspoken. He admits he failed to arrange Esme's future, and his confession is both an apology and a plea for understanding. His promise to stop trying to fix things is a significant moment of acceptance, as he learns to trust Esme's judgment.

Mr. Dankworth emerges as a quiet antagonist. His meticulousness is admirable, but his behaviour is controlling and dismissive. He treats Esme as inferior, rewriting her work and burning her originals, and his refusal to move to the sorting table is a deliberate act of dominance.

Lizzie is briefly present but her words carry weight. Her advice to Esme—to make the best of what one must settle for—echoes throughout the chapter, shaping Esme's responses to the challenges she faces.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Control over language is a central theme. Mr. Dankworth's rewriting of Esme's corrections and Da's entries is a literal act of erasure, a struggle for control over the words that will define the dictionary. His burning of Esme's originals is a symbolic destruction of her voice.

Erasure of women's words is also present. Esme's hidden collection of slips with women's words is mentioned, and her anxiety about Mr. Dankworth's proximity to her desk suggests a fear that her secret work will be discovered. The entry for mother is a poignant example of how definitions can be shaped by those in power.

Marriage and women's futures are explored through Da's conversation with Esme. Da's assumption that marriage is the natural path for a woman is challenged by Esme's choice, and his sadness at the loss of imagined grandchildren reflects the societal pressure women face.

Parental love and acceptance is a motif that runs through the chapter. Da's love for Esme is unconditional, even when he does not understand her choices. His promise to keep loving her is a reaffirmation of their bond.

Workspace invasion is a symbol of the broader intrusion into Esme's life. Mr. Dankworth's desk blocks her view, his books form a wall, and his scrutiny of her work is a violation of her space and her autonomy.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 17 marks a turning point in Esme's relationship with the Scriptorium. The arrival of Mr. Dankworth introduces a new antagonist, one who threatens not only Esme's workspace but also her contributions to the dictionary. His rewriting of Da's entries is a direct challenge to the authority of the lexicographers, and Esme's decision to restore Da's originals is an act of defiance.

The chapter also deepens Esme's relationship with Da. Their conversation about marriage is a rare moment of honesty, and Da's acceptance of Esme's choices is a significant step in their evolving bond. Esme's request that Da keep loving her is a reminder of the importance of unconditional love in the face of societal expectations.

Finally, the chapter sets up future conflicts. Esme's decision to leave Mr. Dankworth's addition to mother suggests that she is not yet ready to challenge every act of erasure. The question of who controls the dictionary—and whose words are included—will continue to shape the narrative.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Esme leave Mr. Dankworth's addition to the entry for mother?

Esme leaves the addition because it touches on a deeply personal and painful subject. The definition of mother is not just a lexicographical question for her; it is a reminder of her own loss and the choices she has made. She is not ready to confront this particular erasure, perhaps because it forces her to confront her own grief.

2. How does Mr. Dankworth's behaviour reflect the theme of control over language?

Mr. Dankworth's rewriting of Esme's corrections and Da's entries is a literal act of control over language. By burning Esme's originals and altering Da's proofs, he is asserting his own authority over the dictionary. His refusal to move to the sorting table is also a way of maintaining control over Esme's workspace and her work.

3. What does Da's conversation with Esme reveal about his character?

Da's conversation reveals his vulnerability and his love for Esme. He admits he failed to arrange her future, and his sadness at the loss of imagined grandchildren shows his investment in societal expectations. However, his promise to keep loving Esme and to stop trying to fix things demonstrates his willingness to accept her choices and to prioritise their relationship over convention.

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