****
A beautiful story taking in three generations of women, each
trying to find their own place in the world.
Jessie and Scotch marry at the end of the First World War
and have a fabulous honeymoon travelling in Italy and France. Scotch is a talented artist but realises that
he cannot provide the luxurious lifestyle that Jessie has grown up with. Jessie is abandoned and has to reinvent herself
to be able to survive.
Lisa La Touche moves to Hollywood to become an actress
during the Second World War. Longing for
a life of glamour, she finds the reality less palatable and has to make
difficult decisions that impact on the rest of her life.
Cat is a talented photographer, travelling the world to
capture gritty images of war and poverty, but a serious illness brings her
closer to her family and she uncovers her secret history.
Kate Beaufoy carefully weaves the stories together, using
elements of her own family history which are fascinating. I was particularly engrossed with Jessie’s
story, the fashionable circle of people that surrounded her and the sadness contained
within her life. I wasn't as engaged by
Cat and found her story less interesting but she is a necessary part of the
story.
The extensive research behind this book is clear, the detail
is lovingly written and this makes it a really good read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld for
my review copy.
No comments:
Post a Comment