Jeanette's Reviews > The Bookbinder of Jericho

From the Dictionary of Lost Words by this author the reader is taken further into the early days of the Oxford Press and into the hearts and minds of a small in-house press, The Clarendon which allowed the press workers to connect with those affected by the war and to the small community of Jericho where the author centres her characters.

Initially, I found the read slow but after the introduction of the war wounded, survivors and refugees from Poland and Belgium this gave the book more depth. The small community of those living in "narrow boats" on a canal in Jericho, a small Oxford suburb (Google described as once Bohemian, a place of the past outside the Oxford walls) is close-knit but for a time insulated from the effects of England going to war in defence of Belgium and other European countries. Their lives are not unlike many of this time, particularly for women who have yet to achieve the right to vote and is mentioned several times, only women of some social standing would have this opportunity, workers such as Peggy and Maude will not have the same right.

Peggy and Maude, twin sisters living on their "narrow" boat, Calliope on the canal, are employed by the Clarendon Press as bookbinders, meticulously preparing the pages for binding. There is an art to getting the pages folded evenly and a skilled worker was able to achieve this easily. The work would have been laborious and standing on one's feet all day extremely taxing. The twin's mother has died leaving Peggy the carer of her sister who is intellectually challenged. Their mother had tried to push her into finishing her education but Peggy used her sister's care as an excuse not to do so. 

There are two momentous events that have a great impact on Peggy, volunteering to assist those after major surgery wounded in the war or, those convalescing from war wounds she meets a very liberated and well-to-do woman of a similar age. They are poles apart in personality and wealth, Gwen is privileged but she takes an instant liking to Peggy and Maude and eventually with her encouragement Peggy starts to look at the possibility of furthering her education. However, in the mix of things she becomes very attached to a Belgian Officer who has been badly wounded in this war, his disfigurement initially frightens Peggy and his physicality has been greatly impaired but it's not long before she can look beyond all of this and becomes romantically involved with Bastiaan.

There is great sadness that imposes on these two young women, Peggy and Maude, with the effects of the war on them and those around them, however, both grow in mental strength and understanding. Bastiaan returns to Belgium to restart his profession but without Peggy, as she decides that she must pursue her desire to go to university and for which her second attempt is successful.  

The author has recommended a YouTube silent film on the Oxford Press which gives a remarkable account of how involved the process was in the early days of printing and bookbinding.