Emmeline has moved to London to help with the War effort but is frustrated working at a solicitors office. When she sees a job advertised at a publishing company she thinks this is her big break in journalism. Only after getting the job she realises that she is working for Woman’s Friend, failing magazine, and she is annoyed that her boss, the redoubtable Mrs Bird, does not want to sully her problem page with any of the real-life problems affecting woman in Britain in 1941. Ditched by her fiancee, Emmy decides that she will help these women by impersonating Mrs Bird, but only when tragedy strikes close to home does Emmy see that there may be a different way.
On first reading this book sees like a very lightweight, but entertaining, story about coping in Bliz-ridden London. However as one is caught up by the frothy prose one realises that there is actually quite a heartfelt tale here. Women are unsure about their romantic lives in a time when marriages happen in haste and life can be tenuous for those at home and on the warfront. In an age where discussing feelings is frowned upon the women’s magazines are a source of comfort to all. I was reminded of Waugh when reading this, characters larger than life, dry humour, frothy prose but a meaning as well, a surprisingly good read.
pluckedhighbrow 