Pip Williams books

Pip Williams is an Australian author best known for The Dictionary of Lost Words (2020) and The Bookbinder of Jericho (2023). Browse all of her books in order.

Non-Fiction

Title Published Buy on Amazon
One Italian Summer 2017 Buy

Standalone Novels

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Dictionary of Lost Words 2020 Buy
The Bookbinder of Jericho / The Bookbinder 2023 Buy

Pip Williams is an Australian author who grew up in London before moving to Adelaide, South Australia. Her debut non-fiction book, One Italian Summer (2017), is a personal account of a year she spent living in a small Italian village with her family.

She gained wide recognition with The Dictionary of Lost Words (2020), a historical novel inspired by the real-life making of the Oxford English Dictionary. The story follows a young girl named Esme who grows up in the Scriptorium and starts saving the words that the dictionary’s editors leave out. The novel became an international bestseller and was published in more than thirty countries.

Her second novel, The Bookbinder of Jericho (2023), is also set in Oxford and takes place during World War I. It follows a young woman who works at a university press bindery and discovers that the books she binds contain information the authorities want to suppress.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Pip Williams written?

Pip Williams has written three books across two series.

What was Pip Williams's first book?

Pip Williams’s first book is One Italian Summer, published in 2017.

What is The Dictionary of Lost Words about?

The Dictionary of Lost Words is a historical novel set during the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary. It follows Esme, the daughter of one of the dictionary’s editors, who begins collecting words that the men working on the project overlook or discard, particularly words used by women and the working class.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We may receive commissions for purchases made through links on this site.

Privacy Policy