The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams

The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams
UK Publication: July 2023
Reviewed by: Book Worm
Rating: [★★★]

This ARC was provided by Random House UK (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.

Unforgettable characters

Synopsis from Goodreads: ‘Your job is to bind the books, not read them.’

When the men of Oxford University Press leave for the Western Front, Peggy, her twin sister Maude and their friends in the bookbindery must shoulder the burden at home. As Peggy moves between her narrowboat full of memories and the demands of the Press, her dreams of studying feel ever more remote. She must know her place, fold her pages and never stop to savour the precious words in front of her.

From volunteer nurses to refugees fleeing the horrors of occupation, the war brings women together from all walks of life, and with them some difficult choices for Peggy. New friends and lovers offer new opportunities, but they also make new demands – and Peggy must write her own story.

My Thoughts: I love the author’s notes at the end of the book where she lets the reader know the real life people that her books are loosely based around even completely fictional characters like Peggy have some basis in history.

The best bit of this book is the characters I feel in love with almost each and every one of them. I love the way William’s included Maude a character with Echophalia a condition I had never heard off but that was fascinating to research once I had finished reading. The best thing a book can give a reader is the inspiration to go forth and do their own research and this definitely did that.

Historically this is fascinating as well as it explores all the roles within the press that go into printing anything from a leaflet to a book. Each section is covered in detail from printing, to following and finally binding and I found it all fascinating and absorbing. I would love to visit a real life press but suspect the modern equivalent would largely focus on machinery so maybe I need a time machine.

It also explores world events at the time from the outbreak of WWI to the winning of votes for women (but not all women). It explores how the social status you are born into can restrict your life and how it can also give you an obstacle to overcome.

This is not all happy endings and William’s explores the impact of war on those who fight, those who die and those who survive.

Well researched and fascinating historical fiction.

Who would like this? I would recommend this to anyone who loves historical fiction or books about books and anyone who loves unique and memorable characters!

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