The Pip Williams novel The dictionary of lost words (Affirm) is the first Australian book to be selected for Reese’s Book Club.

American actor and producer Reese Witherspoon founded the book club in 2017 to champion books featuring a woman at the center of the story. The dictionary of lost words was chosen as the book club’s choice for this month of May.

The dictionary of lost words is set in the creation of Oxford’s first English dictionary over a century ago, and tells the story of Esme, a young girl who took it upon herself to preserve neglected “women’s words” or rejected by the male lexicographers who shaped the English language.

Since its first publication in Australia in March 2020, The dictionary of lost words has sold over 200,000 copies in Australia and New Zealand alone, while the rights have been sold in 17 territories including the UK, US, Italy, South Korea South, Brazil and Russia.

Reese’s previous book club picks include Eleanor Oliphant is perfectly fine (Gail Honeyman, HarperCollins) and Where the Crawdads sing (Delia Owens, Privateer).

Category: Local News