Book review: The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry

Genre: Historical fiction

Release date: March 18, 2025

Goodreads rating: 4.36

My rating: 5

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I am drawn to stories based on real people and real historical events, and The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry delivered on both counts.

Have you ever heard of Barbara Newhall Follett? If not, don’t worry, neither had I. But her story, which is fictionalized in this book, is deeply intriguing. Barbara Newhall Follett was a child prodigy author who published her first novel at the age of 12 back in 1927. Sadly, Barbara mysteriously went missing in 1939 never to be found again. Her disappearance and story are one of the 20th century’s most intriguing literary puzzles partially because Follett penned her very own new language.

Barbara Newhall Follett.

Source: Hungerford Arcade

Similarly, in Patti Callahan Henry’s book, we follow Clara Harrington, daughter of child prodigy Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham (inspired by Follett) who, like the real Follett, also published her first novel at age 12 and invented a new language, which she documented in the form of a dictionary. Sadly, she also disappears mysteriously along with her dictionary, making it impossible for her fans and family to translate a much-awaited sequel to her original novel.

In the book, we follow Clara as she tries to piece together her mother’s disappearance. Her journey takes her to London, where the long-lost dictionary is discovered in a family’s private library.

The Great Smog of London, 1952

Source: Smithsonian Magazine

The story and characters are fascinating but what I especially loved is that Patti Callahan Henry injected several other real historical events and people in the story. For example, Clara arrives in London during what is now known as the Great Smog of London which killed more than 4000 people in 1952. We also visit the home and friends of Beatrix Potter who—unbeknownst to me—is another real-life author who invented her own language.

This book is truly a must-read for any literature lover… or linguist! It makes you think differently about language, the power of words, their origins, and how they capture meaning. It’s truly fascinating.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.