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The Words in My Hand Author: Guinevere Glasfurd

ISBN: 9781473617865 Format: Paperback Number Of Pages: 432 Published: 12 January 2016 Country of Publication: GB Dimensions (cm): 23.4 x 15.4 x 3.4 Description: A young servant girl desperate to learn.

An ambitious philosopher in search of the truth.

A story lost from history.

The Words in My Hand is the reimagined 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 Ren Descartes.

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 m...

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