THE TIMES BOOK OF THE MONTH | SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA FIRST NOVEL AWARD | THE AUTHORS' CLUB BEST FIRS NOVEL AWARD
The Words in My Hand is the reimagined true story of Helena Jans, a Dutch maid in 17th century Amsterdam working for an English bookseller. One day a mysterious and reclusive lodger arrives - the Monsieur - who turns out to be René Descartes.
At first encounter the maid and the philosopher seem to have little in common, yet Helena yearns for knowledge and literacy - wanting to write so badly that she uses beetroot for ink and her body as paper.
And the philosopher, for all his learning, finds that it is Helena who reveals the surprise in the everyday world that surrounds him, as gradually their relationship deepens in a surprising story of love and learning.
'Excellent . . . an entirely unsentimental love story with a memorable and engaging heroine. Clever and touching' The Times
'An accomplished first novel . . . Glasfurd brilliantly dissects the complex frustrations of a woman in love with a man consumed by intellectual obsessions. There is much to move us here' Guardian
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Book Description paperback. Condition: New. Language: ENG. Seller Inventory # 9781473617872
Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. Paperback. THE WORDS IN MY HAND is the re-imagined true story of Helena Jans, a Dutch maid in 17th-century Amsterdam, who works for Mr Sergeant the English bookseller. When a mysterious and reclusive lodger arrives - the Monsieur - Mr Sergeant insists everything must be just so. It transpires that the Monsieur is Rene Descartes.But this is Helena's story: the woman in front of Descartes, a young woman who yearns for knowledge, who wants to write so badly she makes ink from beetroot and writes in secret on her skin - only to be held back by her position in society.Weaving together the story of Descartes' quest for reason with Helena's struggle for literacy, their worlds overlap as their feelings deepen; yet remain sharply divided. For all Descartes' learning, it is Helena he seeks out as she reveals the surprise in the everyday world that surrounds him.When reputation is everything and with so much to lose, some truths must remain hidden. Helena and Descartes face a terrible tragedy and ultimately have to decide if their love is possible at all. A young servant girl desperate to learn. An ambitious philosopher in search of the truth. A woman's story lost from history. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9781473617872
Book Description Paperback. Condition: Brand New. 432 pages. 8.00x5.25x1.25 inches. In Stock. Seller Inventory # __1473617871
Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. New. Fast Shipping and good customer service. Seller Inventory # Holz_New_1473617871
Book Description Condition: New. In. Seller Inventory # ria9781473617872_new
Book Description Condition: New. A young servant girl desperate to learn. An ambitious philosopher in search of the truth. A woman's story lost from history. Num Pages: 432 pages. BIC Classification: FV. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 131 x 197 x 2. Weight in Grams: 304. . 2017. Paperback. . . . . Seller Inventory # V9781473617872
Book Description Condition: New. A young servant girl desperate to learn. An ambitious philosopher in search of the truth. A woman's story lost from history. Num Pages: 432 pages. BIC Classification: FV. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 131 x 197 x 2. Weight in Grams: 304. . 2017. Paperback. . . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland. Seller Inventory # V9781473617872
Book Description Condition: New. Buy with confidence! Book is in new, never-used condition 0.62. Seller Inventory # bk1473617871xvz189zvxnew
Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. Buy for Great customer experience. Seller Inventory # GoldenDragon1473617871