The Bookbinder of Jericho By Pip Williams

In The Bookbinder’s Daughter, set against the backdrop of World War I, the young men of Britain are sent off to fight, leaving women to sustain the nation’s daily life. In Oxford, twin sisters Peggy and Maude live on a narrow boat and work in the university press’s bindery. Peggy, ambitious and intelligent, has always been confined to the physical labor of bookbinding, her dreams of academic achievement stifled. As she folds and assembles pages, her thoughts often drift to the female students at Oxford’s Somerville College, who have access to an extensive library she can only imagine.

Maude, on the other hand, finds contentment in the rhythm of her work and the camaraderie of the bindery girls. Though extraordinary in her own way, she is vulnerable, and Peggy feels a deep responsibility to protect her.

The arrival of Belgian refugees, fleeing the devastation of war, disrupts the Oxford community and the sisters' lives. Peggy begins to see a glimmer of a different future for herself—one where she might educate herself and fulfill her intellectual potential. However, as the war and illness continue to alter her world, her burgeoning love for a Belgian soldier and the accompanying responsibilities pose significant challenges.

The Bookbinder’s Daughter delves into the nature of knowledge—its creation, accessibility, and the truths that are often obscured. Pip Williams, known for her international bestseller The Dictionary of Lost Words, offers a profound exploration of this rarely highlighted historical period through the experiences of women navigating a world in upheaval. 📚❤️