This novel takes place during WWI in Oxford, England, where twin sisters Peggy and Maude are employed by the Oxford University Press to fold and assemble the pages of books. While Maude is seemingly content, Peggy wants more. She is constantly told to just fold the pages, not read them, and her greatest dream is to attend Oxford's Somerville women's college. This is a story about women's suffrage, the war, and changing times. It is a wonderful book and highly recommended.

I had not read Pip Williams before and did read that this was a companion to The Dictionary of Lost Words (which I have been wanting to read), but I really enjoyed her writing.
I was drawn into the story for the beautiful writing and the picture of life among these characters during WWI. Peg was an interesting and complex character and I enjoyed reading about her and was rooting for her. Her twin sister, Maude, is a sharp contrast with simple needs and contented nature. I enjoyed the secondary characters too, especially Tilda, their "aunt," and the Belgian refugees Lotte and Bastiaan.

I enjoyed the setting of the book with the backdrop of war, the suffragette movement, and reading about the process of binding books in that time was fascinating. The story is an emotional one that explores the effects of war, the spread of influenza, women's suffrage, education, heartache, and loss.

This book is about knowledge….who has the right to it and who does not. In Britain in 1914, only the elite had the privilege and access to Oxford’s libraries. You were either a “town” or a “gown,” and sisters Peggy and Maude were “town” girls…. not born into privilege. They inherited jobs at the Oxford University Press bindery, where Peggy learned at a young age to read upside down whilst folding pages into folio, quarto or octavo patterns. If a fold was wrong or torn, the books ended up in the sisters’ personal collection.


They were versed in the classics and Greek mythology, but still not allowed access to libraries at Oxford. I have never before read an homage to the book itself and I found it intriguing. Do people still consider the work involved in making a book? Do they think of books as treasured possessions? A favorite quote: “As soon as someone cracks the spine, a book develops a character all its own. What impresses or concerns one reader is never the same as what impresses or concerns all others. So, each book, once read, will fall open at a different place. Each book, once read, will have told a slightly different story.”

#outsidethepagelimits Showcase Series: THE BOOKBINDER OF JERICHO by Pip Williams

Pip Williams’s debut novel THE DICTIONARY OF LOST WORDS soared to bestselling status and earned a spot on the widely popular Reese’s Book Club list. It was also featured right here previously on The Erudite Bibliophile with Wanderlust. She now returns with a companion novel set again amongst the streets of Oxford with ties through the Oxford University Press to a few of the beloved characters from her debut novel.

I love historical fiction written by female authors about women that bring them back onto the pages of history where they belong. Too often their part in history is omitted and their role in the past is erased, especially in regards to ‘ordinary’ or the ‘everyday’ woman. However, they can be and are extraordinary in their impact on the world as well as in their gifts to their community and society. Pip has revealed that when she was doing research for her debut novel, she saw numerous historical pieces, in-house publications, and photos about the men of the Oxford University Press but very little to none about the women of the Press. Although they played a vital role in the bindery there - folding, gathering, and sewing the pages - they were essentially voiceless and silenced amongst the annals of history. Pip said that there were only a couple of photos, a clip in a silent movie, and a farewell address on the retirement of their press controller as evidence of their existence. There wasn’t anything in the archives by their own words or from their own pen. Furthermore, whilst their role was essential to the binding of a book published by the Oxford University Press, they themselves were most likely not to have been permitted or able to attend the University there and read the same texts they were working on. After all, they were ‘Town’, not ‘Gown’.

Williams also chooses to set the novel during the pivotal time period during WWI, when many of these same women were contributing to the war effort with making munitions or caring for wounded soldiers (Allied or enemy) as the University buildings were turned into makeshift hospitals and the town was sheltering Belgian refugees. Williams also centers the home of her central characters in a narrowboat along the canal, so the reader not only sees them deal with the challenges and heartbreaking losses of wartime rations and deaths, but also the difficulties of living on a narrowboat in a town racked with the effects of wartime. The various themes of love, friendship, family, and chosen family that connect us all over time, place, culture, status, and other dividers shine through the pages of the book in a steady current.

Food for thought: It would be interesting to discuss with readers of the book if after uncovering all the steps and intricacies of the book binding process, if they look at the books in their hands differently? If they look a little closer at the folded and bound pages sewn, the engraved cover and/or spine, etc? Do they appreciate the physical book itself more after learning all that went into its construction? For those who would want to attempt or experience a little of the process themselves, take a peek at the book club kit provided by Penguin Random House at the below link, for steps on how to create and bind your own book! From what you will need, to the step-by-step instructions for folding and binding your pages as well as making the book cover and spine, you will have everything you need to make your own hardcover book!

https://www.randomhousebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/The-Bookbinder-Book-Club-Kit.pdf

Check out the below YouTube video clip from Affirm Press to hear more from the author herself, Pip Williams on her latest release: THE BOOKBINDER OF JERICHO.
#pipwilliams #affirmpress #outsidethepagelimits
#thebookbinderofjericho #thedictionaryoflostwords
#theeruditebibliophilewithwanderlust

https://youtu.be/xRVqaIQUnSA?si=F04ovr2lqyBypgMc

Another gorgeous WWI era historical fiction novel about books from Pip Williams, this time following a bindery girl who longs to read books at Oxford, not just bind them. I really appreciated the insight into the divide between Town and Gown in Oxford and the look at refugees and attitudes toward war in England before, during, and after WWI. The evolution of the relationship between sisters Peggy and Maude was also lovely to watch. A really excellent historical fiction novel.

The Bookbinder takes place in the same timeframe as William’s previous novel, The Dictionary Of Lost Words, with some overlapping characters. Like Dictionary, this book starts on the slow side, but builds. A true book lovers book, filled with vibrant characters. Williams once again takes us on a historical journey that we didn’t know we were missing. Thank you to Ballentine Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it now in your local and online bookstores and libraries.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Peggy and Maude are twin sisters who live on a narrowboat, where they lived with their mother until she passed away. They both work in the bindery at the university press in Oxford where they fold and gather the pages of the books Peggy loves reading. She loves books more than anything except Maude. Maude is on the spectrum (although they didn’t have a word for it back then), and Peggy has always taken care of and protected Maude. When WWI begins, and Oxford is flooded with Belgian refugees, Peggy falls for an injured Belgian soldier. Now she is torn between caring for Maude, loving her soldier, and furthering her education while war and illness are all around her.

This novel’s time frame starts about the middle of The Dictionary of Lost Words. These are different characters and a different story, but I was given sound advice about reading The Dictionary of Lost Words first. There are major spoilers in here.

Since I read Williams’ two novels back-to-back, it’s hard not to compare them. There is a lot of crossover between the two, and the protagonists are similar characters. I like to think Esme and Peggy would have been friends, had they met, but I digress. Both novels also take place in the same “world”. Not just in Oxford and its suburbs, but in the creation, printing and binding of books. I mention all of these things not because they’re bad things, but because they may have affected the way I viewed this book. I didn’t feel like I was reading the same book, necessarily, but I was well and truly over Oxford, printing presses, war, and pandemics by the time I finished this book. Maybe don’t read them back-to-back. 🤔😂

A successful companion to Pip Williams’ previous work, “The Dictionary of Lost Words.” The previous novel revolved around the Oxford English Dictionary while “The Book Binder” deals with the women who bind the books at the Oxford University/Clarendon Press. Both books are set in England during World War I and even some characters appear in both novels. Williams creates strong and interesting female characters, who actively seek and achieve independence. The obligatory love story is present but Williams provides a very sensitive picture of what war does to people, both physically and mentally. There is a wonderfully engaging plot, sympathetic and believable characters and a well-researched setting. Each book can easily stand on its own. It’s a good read. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an advanced readers copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Thanks to Random House & NetGalley for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

I loved this beautifully written and well-researched story of two 21-year-old sisters at the outbreak of World War I. Identical twins Peggy and Maude have worked since they were 12 years old as bindery girls at Oxford University’s Clarendon Press. They live on the Oxford canal in a book-filled narrowboat named Calliope, now alone since their mother died about four years ago.

Despite Peggy’s improbable desire to study at Somerville College and become a writer, she feels she can’t leave her sister Maude, who is on the spectrum with autism-like issues. And without a scholarship there is no way Peggy would be able to attend anyway. Every day they work at folding, gathering, and sewing the pages of books that they are forbidden to read: “Your job is to bind the books, not read them.” The novel is told by Peggy, who says, “I want to write the books. I want my ideas to be printed, I want my experience to count. I want to share something.”

In addition to the description of working in the bindery, the author does an excellent job of describing the women’s suffragette movement, the inequalities and limitations women face, as well as the cultural changes taking place due to the Great War, and the repercussions of the Spanish Flu.

A few of the characters recur from "The Dictionary of Lost Words," Pip Williams’ earlier historical novel that I also rated 5 stars. Here is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Both books feature the bindery, highlight young women who love words and books, and who have a future of great potential but are held back by the culture of the time and their place in society.

It was easy to become involved with the characters’ lives and the history of the period. I was sorry when the novel ended. I highly recommend this “immersive and compelling tale.”

The Bookbinder
Peggy and her twin sister Maud went to work at the Oxford University Press bindery after leaving school at age 12. Their mother, Helen, was also a worker at at the bindery. The family lived on a small boat in the harbor.
When Helen died, Peggy took over the care of her sister. Maud was “slow” and Peggy wanted to protect her.
Then the Germans started bombing Belgium and Britain came to Belgium’s aid. Local young men signed up for military service and women had to take their place in many jobs.
A hospital for wounded soldiers was set up in one of the Oxford colleges and the call went out for volunteers to help with patients. Peggy offered to help and met Gwen, an Oxford student there. The 2 girls became fast friends and soon Gwen realized that Peggy was very bright and well read.
One of the patients Peggy met at the hospital was Bastiaan, a disfigured Belgian soldier. Once he was released from the hospital, Bastiaan remained in the town. Then Belgian refugees whose towns were obliterated by the Germans, were brought to the area. These people found work in local businesses like the bindery. Lotte, one of the Belgian women, began working in the bindery and became friends with Peggy and Maud.
Peggy’s life began to change when she fell in love with Bastiaan and also began to study for entrance to a college at Oxford.
This book examines everyday life in a part of Britain around the time of World War I. We are shown how the war changed everything. We also learn about the danger of the Spanish Flu of 1918.
History buffs and those who enjoy a good story about the effects that a war has on those who fight in it as well as those they leave at home, will also enjoy this book. It is well written and will keep your attention till the last page.
I received this ARC from the publisher and Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I got about halfway through this book before I decided to DNF. It isn’t that the book is bad, it’s just unnecessarily long and slow-moving. I think the topic is really interesting and the characters’ stories appeal to me, but it moves so slowly that I just can’t stay invested in the story.

This was a war-era book unlike any I’ve ever read. It isn’t often that a historic book takes place during World War One, and focuses on the work and education of a young girl. The war is there, and is a solid line throughout, but never seems to overtake the storyline.

I loved that Peg’s storyline wasn’t predictable, and was kept realistic. And of course Maude holds a special place in all of our hearts. She’s a breath of fresh air.

After really enjoying Williams' previous novel, The Dictionary of Lost Words, I was so excited to get my hands on an ARC of The Bookbinder. Unfortunately, I didn't have the same enjoyment of this novel. I thought the pacing was very slow and I had to force myself to pick up the book. I struggled to understand the purpose of the novel and nothing about the story really made me want to keep reading. I was hoping there would be more discussion and information about the bookbinding process, but that was unfortunately not present in the novel. I did finally get interested at about the 75% mark when the main character started studying and there seemed to be more of a plot. I think I could have enjoyed this story more if it wasn't close to 500 pages (per page count on Goodreads). It was entirely too slow and uneventful to be that long of a book.

This one fell flat for me. While I enjoyed the history and the research that went into the story. But I could not stand the main characters.

I adored this book! The Bookbinder is a fascinating look at life during WWI in Oxford, England for two sisters, Peggy and Maud. They work as bookbinders with the Oxford University Press but Peggy dreams of a bigger life. One where she walks across the street and becomes a student in the women’s college at Oxford. But as a “town” instead of a “gown” and with her responsibilities to her slower sister, Peggy knows her dreams will never come true.

With the advent of WWI, however, women’s fortunes change as they take on roles left open by the men who become soldiers. Peggy finds an escape as a volunteer to the Belgian refugees brought to the town, finding companionship and a love that threatens to overtake her dreams.

I loved all of the details of the book binding process included by the author and felt like I was in the factory myself! Peggy’s frustration and torn loyalties were easy to understand, and I was rooting for her the whole time. The glimpses we got of the battlefield through letters was poignant and heartfelt, just enough so we knew what was happening while keeping the focus on the homefront.

My favorite characters were Peggy’s society friend, Gwen, and the Belgian soldier she befriends, Baastian. Both added levity and emotion to Peggy’s often depressed outlook. The book surprised me in many ways and taught me so much about this time period. I just loved it!

I recently read the author’s first book, The Dictionary of Lost Words, and loved the “Easter eggs” that referred to characters in that book. You don’t have to have read the first book to read this one but do know that this book has a few spoilers for the first book. Both are excellent reads!

Peggy and Maude are identical twins, born to an unwed mother who works at the Oxford University Press as a bookbinder to support her small family. The time is just before England joins the war effort and goes through the Spanish flu of 1917 and ends right after Armistice.

The girls are hired at the Press as teenagers and become self-supporting when their 36-year-old mother dies. The primary job for the bookbinders is folding pages to assemble into books. Maude isn’t truly slow but she is special needs, and she finds comfort in the repetitive folding. Peggy wants more and brings home damaged pages and books in her hunger for education. One friend referred to their boat as “a bloody floating library.” Peggy is the narrator.

Ms Hogg is the supervisor who accepted the girls as employees but insists on calling both the twins Ms Jones, an insult to their illegitimacy. Home to the girls is a narrow boat on one of the canals, berthed next to another narrow boat and between the two boats became one family.

What makes this book so engaging are the rich characters, their relationship to each other and responses to what happens in a war. Their mother’s friend Tilda volunteers as a nurse on the front and some of the story is told in her letters to Maude.

I watched a documentary series about narrow boats done by the theater couple Timothy West and Prunella Scales, which I think gave me an advantage in imagining their living circumstances. This was a thoroughly engaging read. Well done.

The Bookbinder is a wonderful follow-up to The Dictionary of Lost Words. While I do not think it is imperative that you read The Dictionary of Lost Words, it definitely enhanced my experience. The Bookbinder explores women’s lives during WWI as they navigate their roles, family obligation, class, and gender impact their lives and their dreams.

Peggy and Maude are identical twin sisters in this masterpiece of historical fiction centered around a bookbindery in 1914 Britain. This is a beautifully written poignant and powerful journey through war and disease, family, heartbreak, loss, love, and sacrifice. It's an education in the history of books and knowledge, and who had access to education a century ago. It's a stark reminder of the things we have fought for, and the prices that have been paid.

❤️ Maude. ❤️ Bastiaan. ❤️ Tilda. 💔 Lotte.

❤️❤️ This book. ❤️❤️

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

THE BOOKBINDER by Pip Williams is another lovely historical fiction based on the women's roles, not just in book production, but in WWI.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

This a quiet story that gives voice to the unsung heroes in history.

Peggy is a young woman with a twin, Maude, who needs a bit of assistance navigating life. Orphaned by their parents, Peggy has worked hard to continue keeping their longboat home running. The girls have followed family tradition by working in the Bindery, though Peggy has aspirations for more with Oxford's Somerville college in view. When the war hits and class systems as well as gender roles are suspended for a time, Peg senses her chance, but feels the pull to keep caring for her sister.

This was a very lovely historical fiction that shed more light on a time that I am seeing a bit more recently. Perhaps it's the connection with another pandemic and shifting notions about class and cultural boundaries; there are a lot of relevant topics here. With a bit of a love, friendship, and family relationships, this is a very real, and at times humorous look at what being a working woman might have looked like in the early 1900's.

I really enjoyed this story, and I wish I had carved out more time to read this faster. It was my bedtime read, which was a wonderful way to wind down, and I was excited to pick it up, but it seemed to wind me down a bit too quickly! I was absolutely invested in Peggy and Maude's sisterhood.

Thank you @NetGalley and Ballantine Books @randomhouse for sharing this digital ARC with me. This was published July 25th, and historical fiction fans should be grabbing this gem.

I loved how the arc included a photo of the real Bindery workers, more women, whose names have mostly been relegated to a single mention in this type of photo form, if at all.

WOW. I can't stop thinking about Peggy, Maude, Baastian, and the Oxford Press. What a gorgeous story about a tiny slice of time and place. I felt immersed in Oxford and Jericho. I can't wait to recommend this to everyone.