A compelling story, beautifully told and full of vibrant characters. It’s such a vivid and moving account of how the war brought not only horror and deprivation, but for some – especially women – new freedoms and opportunities which they were reluctant to give up once the fighting had ended. I absolutely loved it!

What a charming, original and beautifully researched historical novel. It nails the problems facing female ambition in a man’s world a century ago in such a vivid way that it speaks to us still

‘A wonderful book, whose vividly-drawn characters tell the story of a pivotal period in women’s history as they work behind the scenes in the bindery of the Oxford University Press. I could almost smell the ink and hear the whisper of the pages being folded, as the novel followed their traumas and their triumphs against the harrowing backdrop of the First World War.’

An immersive and compelling tale … Williams is a fresh, exciting new voice in historical fiction. I can’t wait to see what she does next

A compelling, beautifully written homage to the transformational power of books, set against the tragic backdrop of the First World War.

Confident and considered … Williams fully inhabits the world of the bindery and it shows – there’s hardly a page out of place

Vibrant, socially astute historical fiction, it’s laden with details sure to enthral bibliophiles

[An] enjoyable, richly detailed novel

This is the kind of book you want to savour… A gorgeous read

Spellbinding