The Liar’s Dictionary” by Eley Williams

Review by Meredith McKinnie

“The thought became clear and clean: it would take just some small strokes of pen to transfer these doodled drafts onto the official blue index cards and he could pepper the dictionary with false entries. Thousands of them- cuckoos-in-the-nest, changeling words, easily overlooked mistakes. He could define parts of the world that only he could see or for which he felt responsible.” 

In 1899, Peter Winceworth is a disgruntled lexicographer questioning the relevance of his work and his life. Tasked daily with defining words for the acclaimed Swansby’s Encyclopedic Dictionary, Peter is invigorated by a chance meeting with Sophia, a witty chess player who’s intriguing word play and attention to Peter befuddles him. The sudden attraction enlivens Peter’s daily observances, resulting in him longing for the language to acutely describe his current emotions. Encouraged by his newfound excitement, Peter daringly inserts fake words into the upcoming draft of the dictionary, “mountweazels” for the next generation of lexicographers to uncover. 

In 2017, Mallory is the sole intern at Swansby’s, working under David Swansby who is determined to put the dictionary online. Mallory is tasked with weeding out mountweazels, fake entries meant to ensnare plagiarists, to give the online version more credibility in the digital age. As Mallory contends with the daily chore of untangling true words from faux representations, she is hounded by threatening phone calls to blow up the building. Like her counterpart from 100 years prior, Mallory struggles with socialization and self-definition and is allured by the seeming solidarity and structure of language.

The historical fiction novel is told in tandem, chapters alternating between Peter and Mallory. For word lovers, this comedic take on the absurdity of language and life checks all the boxes. Williams’ grasp of the English language is impressive – how little most people know of it, how malleable the edges, how most assume the rules are more rigid than they really are. The comedy is not slap-stick, but has that aura about it, as the characters can be so socially awkward as to stumble into unnecessary stress. I started really getting into the narrative about halfway through, as the vulnerabilities exposed themselves. Williams’ novel of words, about words, and the games people play with words will tickle the fancy of wordsmiths and those intrigued by the practice of lexicography. 

  “Who was he to love her and to make passers of words? – to attempt to confine language is impossible and a fantasy and loathsome, it was like trapping butterflies under glass.”