Historical fiction...one of my very fave genres and especially if set during WWI or WWII or the Civil War. This one was set during WWI and just after WWII. It was fantastic and my first novel by this author.
STORY SUMMARY
It is 1947 and the world is in the midst of the aftermath of World War II. Charlotte(Charlie) St. Clair, an American college student at Bennington College, is unmarried, pregnant and about to be disowned by her very proper family. Her mother decides she will go to Switzerland for an "appointment" (abortion). But while they are in London, she begins to hope that her beloved cousin Rose, who disappeared during the time the Nazi's occupied France, might still be alive. Charlie decides to break free of her mother who accompanied her to Europe to look for Rose. And she meets someone that she will later discover has a connection to her beloved cousin......
It is 1915 and the Great War, World War I has been going on for a year. Eve Gardiner longs to fight against the Germans. One day she unexpectedly gets her wish.....she is recruited to be a spy for the British, in France, against the Germans! She gets some formal training and then some "on the job" training by the mesmerizing Lili a.k.a. Alice Dubois, the "queen of the spies". Lili manages a huge network of secret agents right under the German's noses. They are stationed in Lille, France.
Thirty years later, Eve, who is haunted by a betrayal that tore apart the Alice Network, spends her days drinking or drunk and secluded in her broken down London house.
Until a young American girl named Charlie barges in unannounced......and utters a name that Eve has not heard in over 30 years. Charlie launches both of them on a mission....to find Rose and to finally find the truth....no matter where it leads.
MY THOUGHTS
This was definitely the best novel I have read in a long time. Yes, I say that alot. But then I get another book out of the library and I have to say it again!
This book was based loosely on the real life spy named Louise de Bettignies. She is a little known historical figure...actually a heroine...for her courage, ingenuity and resourcefulness for the women who made up the Alice Network. Many of the names used by the author in this historical fiction story, were real life people. She changed some things around and explains things in the back of the book under Author's Notes. It is fascinating to read. I learned a little bit more about French and German history.
The character development in this book is exquisite. I just felt like I knew these people and I wanted so much for all of them to succeed. I also felt like cheering when Eve and Charlie finally met Rene Bordolon face to face. That scene was very powerful and so well done. I do not want to explain every thing here due to not wanting to ruin the story for you. There is a little bit of a mystery to this plot. It is so well developed.
I loved the setting descriptions especially of Lille and Grasse (France). I literally had tears in my eyes when reading about the small town where Rose had lived. It was so powerful, heart breaking and eye opening. We've always heard of the atrocities in the concentration camps but to learn of such devastation in France, outside of concentration camps, was just powerful and again, I learned some things I've never known. These group of very real spies in World War One were brave, and they thrived in the evil all around them.
The book mentions an entire French village, Oradour Sur Glane, being massacred. This actually happened and it still remains a mystery to this day.
This story will have you staying up past your bedtime, turning page after page to find out what happens with Charlie and Eve.
I like how the author started out in 1947 and then after a chapter in that era, would go back to tell Eve's backstory in 1915. Each time the author goes back to 1915, we learn a little bit more about the horrible happenings of the Great War. You will also ask your self "Why haven't we as American women learned about these courageous women of France and England??"
In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 17 and older.
On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 10.
3 comments:
Yah
This sounds right up my alley. Heading to my library website to see if they have it.
Wow, this sounds like an excellent read. I know I would like it. Thanks for the review!
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