Completed: 6/20/2021
Recommendation: Recommended
Recommended By: Nobody
Review:
This is a book about how women and their words were not considered part of the dictionary. In this sense, the book is excellent. It truly serves to show how women were not really a part of the Oxford English Dictionary (neither in consideration of the words women use nor in the consideration of how these women were erased from the presence of the Victorian era). Keeping in mind that the intent of this book was to show women within the scope of the OED, this is an excellent book.
Intellectually, I understand that life-and-death makes drama. Practically, however, I feel it is a cheat. The imminent threat of death creates drama by virtue of its finality. The impending presence of life creates drama by virtue of its opportunity. OK, I get that. It is much more difficult to create drama out of regular things without invoking life and death struggles. This book has a good run at regular things, but spins out on the life and death as though coming to a crescendo. It is however, a hollow ringing of pots. The cacophony is great, compelling even, but it is a cheap way to make a lot of noise. Where is the nuance? The drama of a maimed hand or of a life as a bondswoman is surely sufficient is it not?
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