A Dancer in Wartime

A Dancer in Wartime
Author: Gillian Lynne
Publisher: Random House
Total Pages: 306
Release: 2012-11-08
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 1448162181

London during the Blitz was a time of hardship, heroism and hope. For Gillian Lynne – a budding ballerina – it was also a time of great change as she was evacuated from war-torn London to a crumbling mansion, where dance classes took place in the faded ballroom. Life was hard, but her talent and dedication shone through and an astonishing journey ensued, which saw Gillian dancing a triumphant debut in Swan Lake, performing in the West End with doodlebugs falling and touring a devastated Europe entertaining the troops. A Dancer in Wartime paints a vivid and moving picture of what life was really like during the hard years of the Blitz and brings to life a lost world.

The Blitz Girls

The Blitz Girls
Author: Johanna Bell
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Total Pages: 281
Release: 2023-04-06
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1399708775

'I love these type of books that tell the story of young women taking on the jobs of men and keeping the country going... Johanna Bell writes lovely books that make you feel as though you are there' Reader review 5 stars London, August 1940. The war is raging in Europe and on the home front ordinary women are stepping up to do extraordinary things to defend their country against Hitler. Dot is dreading the day that her thuggish husband comes home on leave. As she fights her own battle to contribute to the war effort, she won't let anything stand in her way. Peggy has found confidence as an Air Raid Precaution Warden, despite the jeers of the men she works with. But beneath her pluck she fears for her close-knit family, scattered by the war, all determined to do their duty. Vivian a glamorous former debutante is running away from her own heart and into danger as a volunteer ambulance driver. She will stop at nothing to save innocent lives, even if the cost is her own. As the bombs fall on London, these three women are thrown together into an unlikely friendship. Can the Blitz Girls protect each other in their darkest hour? Everyone loves The Blitz Girls: 'Absolutely loved this book, if you enjoy WW2 stories then this is for you' Reader review 5 stars 'A heartwarming story of women discovering their inner strength. . . I couldn't put it down' Vicki Beeby, author of The Ops Room Girls 'Gripping new saga that I devoured. The research that has gone into this is unbelievable! The sense of camaraderie the girls have is honourable. A tough read at times but an important story' Reader review 5 stars 'I LOVED this book, every single page from start to finish' Reader review 5 stars 'Saga at its best. I sat up most of the night to finish it' Reader review 5 stars

Hope for the Blitz Girls

Hope for the Blitz Girls
Author: Johanna Bell
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Total Pages: 256
Release: 2024-08-29
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1399708813

'I'm so taken with the Blitz girls and constantly in awe of their strength and their ability to deal with their lot during the war. There's romance, drama, hardship, heartbreak and friendship . . . I love this author's writing as she captures the feeling of the times so well and really does this genre justice. I was on the edge of my seat' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ London, October 1940. As German bombers increase their nightly raids on the capital, the Blitz Girls must be braver than ever to protect innocent lives and keep the fight against Hitler alive. Dot, encouraged by her friends, is finding her independence and takes a full-time role as an ARP warden. As she finds new courage in the blackouts, her past might still be lurking in the shadows... Peggy makes it her mission to help children caught up in the bombing find safety at her parents' large house in the country. When she returns home, however, she realises her own family need her more than ever. But can she leave her friends in the line of fire? Vivian spends every moment not behind the wheel of her ambulance at the bedside of the man she loves, helping him recover from a terrible crash while defending the British skies. When she is torn between his hospital ward and the site of the latest blast, she faces a heartbreaking choice. As each night becomes more dangerous for the Blitz Girls, will they have the strength to help each other through and keep the light alive in the darkness? EVERYONE LOVES THE BLITZ GIRLS SERIES: 'Oh my goodness what another brilliant book. Family saga wartime, what more can you ask for. I always feel that I know the characters in Johanna's books. If you haven't read any of this author's books you are missing out so much' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Her work shines through with lots of research . . . mind-blowingly good' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Absolutely loved this book, if you enjoy WW2 stories then this is for you' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A heartwarming story of women discovering their inner strength. . . I couldn't put it down' Vicki Beeby, author of The Ops Room Girls 'Gripping new saga that I devoured. The research that has gone into this is unbelievable! The sense of camaraderie the girls have is honourable. A tough read at times but an important story' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I LOVED this book, every single page from start to finish' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Saga at its best. I sat up most of the night to finish it' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I love these type of books that tell the story of young women taking on the jobs of men and keeping the country going. I do love strong women they are great role models. Johanna Bell writes lovely books that make you feel as though you are there' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Blitz Girls

The Blitz Girls
Author: Johanna Bell (Novelist)
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2023
Genre: Female friendship
ISBN: 9781004138708

August, 1940. The war is raging in Europe, but on the home front conflict still seems far away. Dot, living with her mother-in-law and dreading the day that her thuggish husband comes home on leave, is fighting her own battle to contribute to the war effort. Peggy has found confidence as an Air Raid Precaution Warden, despite the jeers of the men she works with - but beneath her pluck she fears for her close-knit family, scattered by the war. And glamorous Vivian, the former debutante, is running away from her own heart and into danger as a volunteer ambulance driver. Then the bombs begin to fall over London, and all their lives are turned upside down. Thrown together into an unlikely friendship, can the Blitz girls protect their country - and each other - in the darkest hour?

The War Girls

The War Girls
Author: V.S. Alexander
Publisher: Kensington Books
Total Pages: 495
Release: 2022-07-26
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1496734807

Perfect for fans of Kate Quinn, Kristin Harmel, and Pam Jenoff, this new historical fiction novel from an acclaimed author is based on true WWII stories of life in the Warsaw Ghetto during the Occupation and the women who served the Allies as agents and spies. Casting light into one of the darkest periods of World War II, this powerful book tells of two Jewish sisters– one imprisoned in Poland and the other who joins the Special Operations Executive in a daring attempt to free her family from the Nazis. It’s not just a thousand miles that separates Hanna Majewski from her younger sister, Stefa. There is another gulf—between the traditional Jewish ways that Hanna chose to leave behind in Warsaw, and her new, independent life in London. But as autumn of 1940 draws near, Germany begins a savage aerial bombing campaign in England, killing and displacing tens of thousands. Hanna, who narrowly escapes death, is recruited as a spy in an undercover operation that sends her back to her war-torn homeland. In Hanna’s absence, her parents, sister, and brother have been driven from their comfortable apartment into the Warsaw Ghetto. Sealed off from the rest of the city, the Ghetto becomes a prison for nearly half a million Jews, struggling to survive amid starvation, disease, and the constant threat of deportation to Treblinka. Once a pretty and level-headed teenager, Stefa is now committed to the Jewish resistance. Together, she, Hanna, and Janka, a family friend living on the Aryan side of the city, form a trio called The War Girls. Against overwhelming odds and through heartbreak they will fight to rescue their loved ones, finding courage through sisterhood to keep hope alive . . . Praise for V.S. Alexander and The Sculptress “Fans of Alena Dillon, Lucinda Riley, and Alexander’s previous work will appreciate the historical accuracy saturating every page of this moving, compassionate novel.” —Booklist

How the Girl Guides Won the War

How the Girl Guides Won the War
Author: Janie Hampton
Publisher: HarperCollins UK
Total Pages: 52
Release: 2010
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 0007356315

Explores how the Guides' work was crucial to Britain's victory. When the Blitz broke out, the Guides knew what to do. They kept up morale in bomb shelters, demonstrating 'blitz cooking' with emergency ovens. They grew food on their company allotments and knitted for the entire country. It's difficult to imagine the war effort without the Guides.

The Air Raid Girls

The Air Raid Girls
Author: Jenny Holmes
Publisher: Random House
Total Pages: 276
Release: 2021-03-18
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1473574781

May, 1941. Meet the Air Raid Girls: three young women keen to do their bit during the Yorkshire blitz. Connie's life has taken an unexpected turn since her husband died - she's living at home and working in the family bakery - but night shifts as an ARP Warden give her a firm sense of purpose. Her younger sister Lizzie is eager to play her part too, perhaps as an ambulance driver. Her fiance refuses to support her decision... but does he really know what's best for her? Twenty-year-old Pamela has led a sheltered life, but when her family's home is destroyed in a raid she must learn to stand on her own two feet - helped by new friends. As bombs fall and fires rage, the young women face the destruction of everything they've ever known. Can their fighting spirit prevail? And what of their families and the men they love? A thrilling and heartwarming new story of friendship, love and duty in wartime by the author of The Spitfire Girls, for fans of Elaine Everest and Rosie Hendry. **Don't miss the next two instalments in the series. The Air Raid Girls at Christmas and The Air Raid Girls: Wartime Brides are available now!** --------------------------------------------- Readers LOVE the Air Raid Girls series: 'There wasn't anything I didn't like about this book' 5 star review 'In all the women at war series of book I have read so far, I think this is the best' 5 star review 'I couldn't put this book down' 5 star review 'Loved the whole story. Hated it coming to an end' 5 star review 'Just the kind of book I like' 5 star review

The Lost Girls

The Lost Girls
Author: D. J. Taylor
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 336
Release: 2020-02-04
Genre: History
ISBN: 1643133764

The Booker Prize–nominated author of Derby Day delivers a sumptuous cultural history as seen through the lives of four enigmatic women. Who were the Lost Girls? Chic, glamorous, and bohemian, as likely to be found living in a rat-haunted maisonette as dining at the Ritz, Lys Lubbock, Sonia Brownell, Barbara Skelton, and Janetta Parlade cut a swath through English literary and artistic life at the height of World War II. Three of them had affairs with Lucian Freud. One of them married George Orwell. Another became the mistress of the King of Egypt. They had very different—and sometimes explosive—personalities, but taken together they form a distinctive part of the wartime demographic: bright, beautiful, independent-minded women with tough upbringings who were determined to make the most of their lives in a chaotic time. Ranging from Bloomsbury and Soho to Cairo and the couture studios of Schiaparelli and Hartnell, the Lost Girls would inspire the work of George Orwell, Evelyn Waugh, Anthony Powell, and Nancy Mitford. They are the missing link between the Lost Generation and Bright Young People and the Dionysiac cultural revolution of the 1960s. Sweeping, passionate, and unexpectedly poignant, this is their untold story.