After many many war novels covering the Second World War, and a few focused on the First, it is difficult to find a new angle that illuminates those horrible events, but Kate Quinn has found one in this interesting juxtaposition of the two women who feature in this historic novel.
Based on the true story of Louise de Bettignies, The Alice Network links two women, each carrying the weight of war, one from her actions as a spy in WWI, the other from personal loss from WWII. Fate brings them together, along with the obligatory love interest for the younger Charlotte, and intertwines their healing from horrific guilt and loss.
The interesting angle, and highlight for many of us, was the WWI spy network of women, led by the indomitable Louise de Bettignies, whose pseudonym was Alice DuBois. She led a spy ring of women centered around Lille, France whose actions saved hundreds, maybe thousands. Her personal courage was an inspiration to all those around her. She is widely recognized and honored in France, but I admit I had never heard of this gallant effort before this book.
Eve, a fictional character, worked with Alice and another spy in Lille, and this is easily the strongest part of the book. While the character of Rene Bordelon, the vengeful French profiteer was at best a charicature, then tension of that relationship was gripping, especially given the backdrop of the true story.
Charlotte's portion of the story, and the way the two come together is not as compelling but did help Eve resolve the guilt she had carried for thirty years, and start to move past it. This is the most recent book we have read with the bifurcated storyline, linked through the main characters. Cooking With Picasso also shared two intertwined stories, and for that matter, both of Kate Atkinson's recent books were the similar if more artful.
All in all, a good read, with some great insight into an historic period. For those of you who wanted to read more on the actual Alice Network, Queen of Spies by Thomas Coulson is a biography of Louise (make sure you are getting the right book, there is another by the same title). Women Heros of World War I by Kate Atwood has 16 stories of brave and largely unsung women and for our french readers, La Guerre des Femmes byAntoine Redier is key source material for this book as is Edith Cavell by Diane Souhami.
Fiona mentioned the Zone Rouge, sections of France that are still too contaminated by munitions to allow human habitation. Here is the link she sent on - hard to believe that the destruction of 100 years ago is still with us. And, does anyone else want to move to Grasse? I'm in!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zone_Rouge
Our next book is Breath by Tim Winton, an Australian writer of great renown there but not as well known here. We will meet on September 18 at Julie W.'s, (I need to confirm that!) at 6:30. Get ready, our book for October (at Lynn's) is War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. Look for the most recent translation by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky if you can find it and if not, stay away from the Constance Garnett version.
See you all there!
