I was starting to feel a bit self-conscious about my reading matter – too much war before breakfast and all that – but it seems I am not alone in my interest. Thanks to all of you who commented or emailed with recommendations for more titles. I’ll keep searching for the novel written about/from the working woman’s perspective of the war, but in the meantime, it’s good to know I have so many well-loved books still to discover.
And Henrietta’s War should definitely be on that list. It seems odd somehow to describe a book about the war as ‘charming’, but that’s exactly what it is. The book unfolds as a series of letters written from Henrietta to her childhood friend, Robert, to cheer him up while he’s serving in France. The letters are quietly funny observations about how the war has changed her small community and the newcomers who have settled there to wait it out. There are, inevitably, tensions between the Londoners who have recently moved there, the evacuees, and the villagers, but the humor is always gentle and never unkind. Even the characters who are stereotypes – the blustering Colonel, the London vegetarian with her progressive ideas and string of beads, the vague Lady of the village -are sympathetically drawn.
It’s been said that Jan Struther’s Mrs. Miniver (the film rather than the book) was instrumental in drawing the Americans into the war, because it showed a family they could relate to and want to help by sending their own sons into battle. I’m not sure how true that is, but I can only imagine that Henrietta’s War would have had much the same impact, because it’s impossible not to root for characters like this:
“I was thinking to-day,” said Lady B dreamily, “that if all we useless old women lined up on the beach, each of us with a large stone in her hand, we might do a lot of damage.”
“The only time I saw you try to throw a stone, Julia, it went over your shoulder behind you,” said Mrs. Savernack.
“Then I would have to stand with my back towards the Germans,” said Lady B comfortably.
Mrs. Savernack got up. “Well, I must go,” she said with a sigh. “I’m due at the Bee. But it’s dull work just turning the handle of a sewing-machine when you’d like to be at a machine-gun.”
“What about that drink, Henrietta?” said Lady B kindly; but I shook my head.
“You’re too thin,” said Mrs. Savernack, not for the first time. “If you had some padding, your nerves would be better.”
I watched them walk away and reflected that Charles was probably right when he said that it was the old women of Britain who will break Hitler’s heart in the end.
I’ve read a few reviews of this book that criticized it for being too light, but I disagree. Life did go on, and people had flirtations, worried about their pets, did war-work that, in any other time, would seem quite odd, and continued to glory in their gardens, worry about their children, and occasionally, covet their neighbor’s rifle so they could pick off invading Germans. And more than that, they discovered a legion of women who kept the whole country going during the course of the war. There’s nothing light about that.
My one quibble with the book was that it was far, far too short. I went off googling for more Henrietta, and was absolutely delighted to find out that the good people of the Bloomsbury Group will be publishing Henrietta Sees it Through: More News from the Home Front 1942-45. Only 6 months until we know how they take the news of more rationing. Odds are Mrs. Savernack finds herself a gun.
Lovely review! I have this and can’t wait to read it! I also have Mrs Miniver so maybe I’ll do a back to back reading.
Rachel – I think you’re going to love this book. And if you’ve never read Mrs. Miniver before, you’re in for a wonderful treat!
This is a great review – I have a copy of this book and will definitely read it soon. After having read your post I am really looking forward to it!
Bloomsburybell – I hope you can read it soon. It really is a wonderful book!
Very nice review. This book was already on my wishlist (the North American release isn’t until the end of March) but now I’m even more eager to get my copy!
Claire – I was very lucky to have some of the Bloomsbury Group books sent to me by a friend in the UK, so I didn’t have to wait for the North American release. Thank goodness! A daft practice, that. I hope you enjoy the book when you get it.
I found this charming too and the lighter side of the war on the home-front. I’m looking forward to the sequel!
Claire – I’m so glad we don’t have to wait long for the sequel. I’m not sure I have the self-restraint not to go searching for old copies at outrageous prices!
I’m reading this one at the moment! Glad to know there is a sequel on the way 🙂
Digifish_books – I hope you’re enjoying it!
Isn’t this book wonderful? What amuses me is that so many reviews – mine included – have chosen the same quotation that you did! It’s so evocative of the spirit of the whole book.
Simon T – I quite like the thought of all those reviewers reading this marvelous book and coming up with the same quote. It’s a kind of bookish solidarity and understanding that the passage really is evocative of the gentle “get on with things” attitude of the whole book.
Ooh you are the bearer of good tidings – another Henrietta book to look forward to!
I first read her in the 1980’s, about the same time as I read E.M Delafield’s Diary of a Provincial Lady and they have both been firm favourites ever since if ever I need a cheer-up read because they both still make me laugh out loud!
I have never read ‘Mrs Miniver’ although I seem to recall having watched the film a long time ago so I will see if I can find a copy.
I see from your sidebar that you are reading The Fortnight In September – I do hope that you like it as I read it recently after seeing a blog about it and have been raving about it ever since!
LizF – I so hope you can find a copy of Mrs. Miniver! I have a hard time describing it to people who haven’t read it, because it’s not really about anything. And yet it’s truly one of my favorite books. I can’t buy a yearly datebook/calendar without thinking of Mrs. Miniver.
I need to update my sidebar! I finished The Fortnight in September weeks ago and loved it. It was wonderful to read a book that didn’t feel hurried or forced to move along, but just unfolded naturally with the story.
Keep wavering on this one – swinging ike you from a feeling of to much war before breakfast and back to feeling like I’m missing out. It’s deffinatley back on my wish list now
I seem to swing between Victorian, wartime and American Lit so I know what you mean! Nice review – I’d like to read this.
I just finished reading THIS book. Was on leave for a week and came home with a stack of goodies which included Henrietta’s War. I’ve bought all but one from the bloomsbury series. Nice review of the book. You’re right..it’s too short. When I got to the end of the book, I was pretty sorry it didn’t have a sequel to follow.
Edina Monsoon – Being at home with a stack of the Bloomsbury Group books sounds like a lovely way to spend a week! Not too long until the sequel is published!
I just finished Henrietta’s War as well and although I didn’t like it as much as you did, I did think it was a good account of life during the war, which was really very interesting.
Kimberly – Thanks for stopping by and commenting!