For those of you who enjoy novels set in England during the first half of the twentieth century, these two stories intertwine the events of the period with the life of the heroine Octavia Smith, her family and friends. The books are definitely not literary giants but they do offer a easy comfortable read within a framework which adds to our knowledge of the times.
Octavia Smith, around whom the novels are developed, was born in 1888 and is the witness to the events of the next half century. She becomes a suffragette and through her experiences we learn of the attempts of women such as the Pankhursts to improve the political position of women. Octavia becomes a teacher and as a result of what she sees in her first appointment, becomes a pioneer in education, applying the principles of the progressive Dalton philosophy. She devotes her life to this and it is in this context, that events, such as the two world wars and the Great Depression, the Fabian Society, the abdication and the subsequent coronation of the new king, the evacuation and bombing of London, Dunkirk, rationing, the entry of the United States into the war and many more; are observed. Readers are given an insight into social mores and the way relationships were conducted at this time and how these gradually changed during the period.
There are achievements and tragedies. Octavia's school triumphs and goes from strength to strength, even when it is evacuated to Woking during the war. Although she can sometimes appear rather too perfect, from time to time we find that she too has failings such as when she displays cowardice after being force fed when imprisoned as a suffragette. Loved members of her family lose their life in such circumstances as the trenches of World War 1, as a result of the influenza epidemic, and the bombing of London.
Octavia falls in love but because of her deep commitment to her work and because women then, did not enjoy the privileges of today and were required to leave work on marriage, she chose, in what could be describes as an act of early feminism, her independence rather than marriage. The dilemma she experiences in facing a choice between her love for Tommy Meriton and her love of teaching is woven into the storyline in both novels.
These novels are warmly written with a light touch and are unchallenging to read. The author's style of writing makes the story easy to follow and hard to put down. I found myself turning pages late into the night and highly recommend it.