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THE HOURS BEFORE DAWN
Fiction
Hardcover
First published June 1, 1942
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June 27, 2021
”— Deves saber que te amo, May.
Ele teve um sorriso ligeiramente desdenhoso. O pior havia passado, e agora já dominava os nervos.
— Acredito que me ames, a teu modo. Mas não é um modo que me traga muita felicidade. Tu amas-me como amas um fato velho, porque te sentes à vontade nesse amor. Gostas de me imaginar sentada no apartamento, à tua espera, pronta para receber-te quando voltares de uma das tuas missões misteriosas.
”Ela suspirou de infelicidade; era inútil tentar, jamais poderia sentir se à vontade com um homem assim; havia algum coisa nele que lhe causava repugnância. Entretanto, Roger era tudo o que possuía agora, pois nem ela escrevia a Dick, nem Dick lhe escrevia. Tomara aquela decisão, por motivos que lhe pareciam bons, e estava disposta a cumpri-la.
Era cruel que o seu sacrifício não lhe houvesse trazido nenhum contentamento; não podia sequer convencer-se de que tivesse qualquer utilidade. Com certo humor, pensou consigo mesma que aquilo era como guardar um pêssego para alguém, e vê-lo apodrecer porque ninguém o queria.”
Já não lia nada de W. Somerset Maugham, o meu autor preferido, desde 2016. Confirmei o sentimento que achei que iria ter assim que terminasse de ler este livro: foi como fazer uma longa viagem e voltar, finalmente, a “casa” (e constatar que tudo está no seu devido lugar!).
Neste livro, não sendo O Fio da Navalha ou A Servidão Humana, Maugham mantém a escrita bela, calma, profunda, quase adocicada e o tema central da obra mantém-se perfeitamente atual: o sacrifício da felicidade individual. Foi muito, muito bom voltar a Maugham!
4,5*
Ele teve um sorriso ligeiramente desdenhoso. O pior havia passado, e agora já dominava os nervos.
— Acredito que me ames, a teu modo. Mas não é um modo que me traga muita felicidade. Tu amas-me como amas um fato velho, porque te sentes à vontade nesse amor. Gostas de me imaginar sentada no apartamento, à tua espera, pronta para receber-te quando voltares de uma das tuas missões misteriosas.
”Ela suspirou de infelicidade; era inútil tentar, jamais poderia sentir se à vontade com um homem assim; havia algum coisa nele que lhe causava repugnância. Entretanto, Roger era tudo o que possuía agora, pois nem ela escrevia a Dick, nem Dick lhe escrevia. Tomara aquela decisão, por motivos que lhe pareciam bons, e estava disposta a cumpri-la.
Era cruel que o seu sacrifício não lhe houvesse trazido nenhum contentamento; não podia sequer convencer-se de que tivesse qualquer utilidade. Com certo humor, pensou consigo mesma que aquilo era como guardar um pêssego para alguém, e vê-lo apodrecer porque ninguém o queria.”
Já não lia nada de W. Somerset Maugham, o meu autor preferido, desde 2016. Confirmei o sentimento que achei que iria ter assim que terminasse de ler este livro: foi como fazer uma longa viagem e voltar, finalmente, a “casa” (e constatar que tudo está no seu devido lugar!).
Neste livro, não sendo O Fio da Navalha ou A Servidão Humana, Maugham mantém a escrita bela, calma, profunda, quase adocicada e o tema central da obra mantém-se perfeitamente atual: o sacrifício da felicidade individual. Foi muito, muito bom voltar a Maugham!
4,5*
July 12, 2018
O meu primeiro pensamento quando comecei a ler é na forma como o autor escreve. É bela, profunda e descritiva.
Não li a sinopse e de início até pensei que estava a ler um romance sobre um casal que está com problemas no matrimónio. Mas a meio do capítulo percebi que não! Trata-se de uma família que vive no campo, com terras e que se orgulha do seu património. No entanto, a família em essência é militar e não sabe como gerir o que tem estando quase empobrecidos.
A narrativa decorre durante a Segunda Guerra Mundial, mas não é explorado as suas consequências apenas como a família lida com a situação.
Existe uma abordagem muito leve ao assunto e quase cómica. Os homens deste livro sofrem mais por causa de mulheres do que da própria guerra. No final existe quase uma indiferença a pelo menos duas situações que deveriam ter sido devastadoras.
Não me parece que o final seja triste ou sem esperança. No fundo sempre souberam o que se estava a passar às suas voltas mas decidiram ignorar? O objetivo era salvar a pátria!
Não li a sinopse e de início até pensei que estava a ler um romance sobre um casal que está com problemas no matrimónio. Mas a meio do capítulo percebi que não! Trata-se de uma família que vive no campo, com terras e que se orgulha do seu património. No entanto, a família em essência é militar e não sabe como gerir o que tem estando quase empobrecidos.
A narrativa decorre durante a Segunda Guerra Mundial, mas não é explorado as suas consequências apenas como a família lida com a situação.
Existe uma abordagem muito leve ao assunto e quase cómica. Os homens deste livro sofrem mais por causa de mulheres do que da própria guerra. No final existe quase uma indiferença a pelo menos duas situações que deveriam ter sido devastadoras.
Não me parece que o final seja triste ou sem esperança. No fundo sempre souberam o que se estava a passar às suas voltas mas decidiram ignorar? O objetivo era salvar a pátria!
May 5, 2020
Hi Mom,
I finally read this!! I am sorry it took me so long to start it, I just have this developed wariness associated with WW2 stories. There seem to be so many horrifying books/films which always seem to end in a similar way with the underlying intention geared to make the viewer/reader so upset they sob into a pillow. I am so desensitized to it at this point.
That being said, Maugham has a wonderful writing style and he develops really likable characters and creates interesting dynamics between them. I think my favorite characters were the mother and Jane. I thought that Roger and May's relationship was one which I have seen quite often in real life and too rarely in literature. Neither are villains, they just have different needs / priorities.
Love,
Sarina
I finally read this!! I am sorry it took me so long to start it, I just have this developed wariness associated with WW2 stories. There seem to be so many horrifying books/films which always seem to end in a similar way with the underlying intention geared to make the viewer/reader so upset they sob into a pillow. I am so desensitized to it at this point.
That being said, Maugham has a wonderful writing style and he develops really likable characters and creates interesting dynamics between them. I think my favorite characters were the mother and Jane. I thought that Roger and May's relationship was one which I have seen quite often in real life and too rarely in literature. Neither are villains, they just have different needs / priorities.
Love,
Sarina
December 7, 2011
A few years ago, after finishing my third Somerset Maugham book, I began to dread the day when I would run out of Maugham to read. Lucky for me, the old boy was prolific. Regardless, I was delighted to find this out-of-print copy. It was published in 1960 and cost $0.50. I bought it 50 years later in 2010 for $2.95, while stopping at the amazing Powell's in Portland during last year's road trip. More importantly, I didn't even know it existed. Hence, it had no impact on my countdown of Maugham books left to read.
There are two interesting things about this edition. First, the title on every page is misprinted as "The Hour Before Dawn," omitting the second "the." Second, the melodramatic description on the back -- "Here is the passionate, powerful story of a whole nation fighting for its survival, and of a man and a woman who tried to create their own island of love in the midst of war's blazing inferno." -- sounds like it was written by someone who has never read this, or any other, book of Maugham's.
One of the few Maugham stories set in England, this book starts the day before Germany invades Poland and tells the stories of various members of a respected but not wealthy Sussex family. Probably Maugham's version of a patriotic wartime novel, this book just oozes British-ness. It is a celebration of keeping a stiff upper lip through personal anguish and tragedy, making light of danger, exercising prudence over passion, and, above all, minimizing attention and notoriety directed at one and one's family. It also demonstrates the firmly held belief that, if one follows these rules, one has fulfilled his duty as an Englishman and can survive anything.
One of the most amusing passages: when eldest son and military intelligence officer Roger finds himself in the middle of German-occupied France and runs into Clark, a cockney corporal in uniform who was taken prisoner, then escaped. Clark almost shoots Roger until Roger said something, to which Clark mumbles to himself, "English, by gum." Then to Roger, "Lucky you spoke, I was going to biff you one... Where you goin'?"
"England. Want to come?"
"Not 'arf."
"All right. I don't know the way, mind you, but I've got a pocket compass."
The book is lovely overall, though far from his best. The first half was classic Maugham -- building the momentum and the complex characterization. The second half felt a little uneven and rushed, and even a little predictable. But then something completely unpredictable happens which takes a while to digest, upon which it becomes clear that it really couldn't have been resolved any other way. Also classic Maugham.
Long live Willie Somerset Maugham.
There are two interesting things about this edition. First, the title on every page is misprinted as "The Hour Before Dawn," omitting the second "the." Second, the melodramatic description on the back -- "Here is the passionate, powerful story of a whole nation fighting for its survival, and of a man and a woman who tried to create their own island of love in the midst of war's blazing inferno." -- sounds like it was written by someone who has never read this, or any other, book of Maugham's.
One of the few Maugham stories set in England, this book starts the day before Germany invades Poland and tells the stories of various members of a respected but not wealthy Sussex family. Probably Maugham's version of a patriotic wartime novel, this book just oozes British-ness. It is a celebration of keeping a stiff upper lip through personal anguish and tragedy, making light of danger, exercising prudence over passion, and, above all, minimizing attention and notoriety directed at one and one's family. It also demonstrates the firmly held belief that, if one follows these rules, one has fulfilled his duty as an Englishman and can survive anything.
One of the most amusing passages: when eldest son and military intelligence officer Roger finds himself in the middle of German-occupied France and runs into Clark, a cockney corporal in uniform who was taken prisoner, then escaped. Clark almost shoots Roger until Roger said something, to which Clark mumbles to himself, "English, by gum." Then to Roger, "Lucky you spoke, I was going to biff you one... Where you goin'?"
"England. Want to come?"
"Not 'arf."
"All right. I don't know the way, mind you, but I've got a pocket compass."
The book is lovely overall, though far from his best. The first half was classic Maugham -- building the momentum and the complex characterization. The second half felt a little uneven and rushed, and even a little predictable. But then something completely unpredictable happens which takes a while to digest, upon which it becomes clear that it really couldn't have been resolved any other way. Also classic Maugham.
Long live Willie Somerset Maugham.
October 5, 2011
I think this book is out of print, but it is classic, riveting Somerset Maugham. It is about an English family in the early days of World War II. It is simply told and has a terrific ending. I could read Somerset Maugham all day long. His style is so easy but his message is always meaningful and true.
Read
November 27, 2016Толкова лека и увлекателна, че дори фактът, че почти всички умряха не развали хубавото настоение. Стилът на писане на С.Моъм е както винаги съвършен, макар самата книгата да не е нещо особено.
November 19, 2017
What a fascinating novel from Maugham. As others have pointed out, it isn't his best work overall, but so much of it (really, the first two-thirds) is so well done that I couldn't put it down.
It's a book that starts right before WWII and ends with the Blitz. It's got a shade of jingoism, especially at the end (the only German character is horrifically one dimensional), it's fairly predictable, but it's just so engrossing. I really found most of these characters interesting, though I think it would have benefited more from being a story of Roger and May than anything else. They were fascinating on their own and together, and their marriage was so well-written and believable as a marriage of that time. I loved reading their individual interpretations of their marriage, especially as contrasted with the marriage of Jane and Ian (who are an absolute hoot). Jim and Dora just felt like plot devices, and there wasn't much to the other characters.
The ending was sharp, sudden, and very tragic. Despite the light tone the book overall has, it ends on a very dark note which was fairly jarring to read at 2:30 a.m. (I was so engrossed I stayed up into the wee hours reading! That's how enjoyable this book is.) The ending also speaks of the shift in British culture away from the landowners after WWII in a rather ham-fisted, nationalistic kind of way.
This book was such a strange amalgam of patriotism and Maugham's usual intensive study of relationships. It's a fascinating read for any fan of Maugham, and I'm rather sad it's out of print.
It's a book that starts right before WWII and ends with the Blitz. It's got a shade of jingoism, especially at the end (the only German character is horrifically one dimensional), it's fairly predictable, but it's just so engrossing. I really found most of these characters interesting, though I think it would have benefited more from being a story of Roger and May than anything else. They were fascinating on their own and together, and their marriage was so well-written and believable as a marriage of that time. I loved reading their individual interpretations of their marriage, especially as contrasted with the marriage of Jane and Ian (who are an absolute hoot). Jim and Dora just felt like plot devices, and there wasn't much to the other characters.
The ending was sharp, sudden, and very tragic. Despite the light tone the book overall has, it ends on a very dark note which was fairly jarring to read at 2:30 a.m. (I was so engrossed I stayed up into the wee hours reading! That's how enjoyable this book is.) The ending also speaks of the shift in British culture away from the landowners after WWII in a rather ham-fisted, nationalistic kind of way.
This book was such a strange amalgam of patriotism and Maugham's usual intensive study of relationships. It's a fascinating read for any fan of Maugham, and I'm rather sad it's out of print.
January 9, 2018
I read this in Hungarian and unfortunately the translation was, well, not so good, which quite ruined the experience. Couldn't really concentrate on the characters or events, I was just thinking, why, why this translation is not up to the usual standard of Antal Szerb or Mrs Devecseri :(
***
Hát én nagyon szomorú vagyok. Annyira szeretem Maugham műveit, de ez a fordítás tönkretette. Értem én, Szerb Antalnak nem volt kapacitása minden könyvet lefordítani, van ez így, de…
Most vadászom az eredeti kiadást, mert nem hiszem el, hogy Jane-nek a sírástól tönkremenne a műszempillája, inkább a szemfestékről lehet szó :(
A cselekményt nem is tudom értékelni, mert sajnos biztos vagyok benne, hogy sokkal jobb ez a könyv eredetiben/szépen fordítva, és tudnék a szereplőkre is figyelni, nem csak arra, hogy basszus, de nem szép ez a mondat.
***
Hát én nagyon szomorú vagyok. Annyira szeretem Maugham műveit, de ez a fordítás tönkretette. Értem én, Szerb Antalnak nem volt kapacitása minden könyvet lefordítani, van ez így, de…
Most vadászom az eredeti kiadást, mert nem hiszem el, hogy Jane-nek a sírástól tönkremenne a műszempillája, inkább a szemfestékről lehet szó :(
A cselekményt nem is tudom értékelni, mert sajnos biztos vagyok benne, hogy sokkal jobb ez a könyv eredetiben/szépen fordítva, és tudnék a szereplőkre is figyelni, nem csak arra, hogy basszus, de nem szép ez a mondat.
May 17, 2019
Este livro comprei-o numa feira de livros usados, foi muito barato, mas o prazer que meu é impagável. Obrigada livros antigos! Imagina-se quem os leu antes de nós, e fica-se espantado como alguns, como este, podem ser esquecidos.
No início da Segunda Guerra Mundial uma família inglesa é posta à prova pelas decisões que tem que tomar. Os seus membros acabam por fazer escolhas que são contra os seus interesses imediatos, mas que são essenciais para a vida colectiva.
Agora quero ler mais de Somerset Maugham.
No início da Segunda Guerra Mundial uma família inglesa é posta à prova pelas decisões que tem que tomar. Os seus membros acabam por fazer escolhas que são contra os seus interesses imediatos, mas que são essenciais para a vida colectiva.
Agora quero ler mais de Somerset Maugham.
July 3, 2025
Já acabei a leitura deste livro há algum tempo, mas a preguiça não me deixou escrever estas palavras mais cedo.
Encheu-me as medidas, a sua leitura. Somerset Maugham cria uma estória de uma família abastada do Sussex, tendo como pano de fundo o início da 2.ª Grande Guerra.
As personagens são descritas de uma forma tão carinhosa, que ao fim de algumas páginas senti, que eu próprio, fazia parte daquela família.
Uma narrativa tão cheia de pormenores fez com que a leitura deste livro se tornasse num enorme prazer.
Encheu-me as medidas, a sua leitura. Somerset Maugham cria uma estória de uma família abastada do Sussex, tendo como pano de fundo o início da 2.ª Grande Guerra.
As personagens são descritas de uma forma tão carinhosa, que ao fim de algumas páginas senti, que eu próprio, fazia parte daquela família.
Uma narrativa tão cheia de pormenores fez com que a leitura deste livro se tornasse num enorme prazer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2025
This started out beautifully—love the family and all the dramatic dynamics. A little past the halfway point, it meandered too far from the main plots, and it took way too long to reach a couple of the main resolutions. I was bummed, I adore Maugham!
June 1, 2024
“I warmed both hands by the fire of life” a quote by Landor mentioned in the book. The book jacket made it sound like a romance. It is not. It’s a WWII novel set in England.
December 14, 2023
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I found this terrific little hardcover of The Hour Before The Dawn, and bought it without a dust jacket, so I had no idea what it was about. It was written by W. Somerset Maugham, who also wrote Of Human Bondage and The Painted Veil.
The Hour was written in 1941, and my copy was published by Triangle Books in 1944. They published inexpensive editions through their parent Doubleday, and you can feel the rough pulp texture in the pages. While in perfect shape, they have aged a light caramel colour, just right.
The Hour plays like Downton Abbey with the introduction of the Henderson family at their English estate. Matriarch Mrs. Henderson and the General; eldest son Roger, Jim and little Tommy; daughter Jane and her husband; Roger's wife May and the house staff. They have taken in Dora, a young lady they met in Austria, who Jim is fond of.
The action begins at the start of WW2 as Germany invades Poland. While Roger works overseas, his wife May falls in love with Dick Murray, and his brother Jim declares himself a pacifist and registers as a conchie. The house is turned into an aid home for the evacuated children of London, with Dora helping out as an organizer. There is a lot of melodrama in the first half of the book, and then the plot turns as someone in the house begins sending nighttime signals to the Germans about the location of a nearby secret airfield. Signals as subtle as a candle in the window, and bold as a burning haystack.
I found whole book entertaining, with some standout characters, and very British. There is terrific tension as the finale approaches ~ Maybe not so much in 'who' the Nazi spy was, but very interesting to think how long ago the plan was started.
This all leads to a really shocking climax. It was riveting, deflating and in some ways understandable all at the same time.
I've since read that this is considered one of his least liked books. I thought it was cracking and would love to read more of his work. The 1940's language may come across as stilted, but if you enjoy British costume drama like Downton Abbey, I'd recommend this book. Really enjoyable.
I found this terrific little hardcover of The Hour Before The Dawn, and bought it without a dust jacket, so I had no idea what it was about. It was written by W. Somerset Maugham, who also wrote Of Human Bondage and The Painted Veil.
The Hour was written in 1941, and my copy was published by Triangle Books in 1944. They published inexpensive editions through their parent Doubleday, and you can feel the rough pulp texture in the pages. While in perfect shape, they have aged a light caramel colour, just right.
The Hour plays like Downton Abbey with the introduction of the Henderson family at their English estate. Matriarch Mrs. Henderson and the General; eldest son Roger, Jim and little Tommy; daughter Jane and her husband; Roger's wife May and the house staff. They have taken in Dora, a young lady they met in Austria, who Jim is fond of.
The action begins at the start of WW2 as Germany invades Poland. While Roger works overseas, his wife May falls in love with Dick Murray, and his brother Jim declares himself a pacifist and registers as a conchie. The house is turned into an aid home for the evacuated children of London, with Dora helping out as an organizer. There is a lot of melodrama in the first half of the book, and then the plot turns as someone in the house begins sending nighttime signals to the Germans about the location of a nearby secret airfield. Signals as subtle as a candle in the window, and bold as a burning haystack.
I found whole book entertaining, with some standout characters, and very British. There is terrific tension as the finale approaches ~ Maybe not so much in 'who' the Nazi spy was, but very interesting to think how long ago the plan was started.
This all leads to a really shocking climax. It was riveting, deflating and in some ways understandable all at the same time.
I've since read that this is considered one of his least liked books. I thought it was cracking and would love to read more of his work. The 1940's language may come across as stilted, but if you enjoy British costume drama like Downton Abbey, I'd recommend this book. Really enjoyable.
March 21, 2009
For Maugham super-fans only (that's me!). Totally melodramatic, and so British you could die, this is the story of one family during the opening days of World War II. Pretty but wan May is married to hale and hearty Roger. Roger's parents, General and Mrs. Henderson, own a manor house but aren't otherwise wealthy. Roger works for the War Office, and is away most of the time, taking May for granted. They married after being thrown together as children, as May's widowed mother rented a property owned by the Hendersons, and May's family was considered "poor with connections." May falls in love with Dick, who is estate agent (sort of pays the bills, collects rent, generates income from the manor) for the family. When May asks Roger for a divorce, he says, Germany's invading Poland tomorrow, can you be a love and wait until after the war? Oh, it's beastly, but I suppose I must, May replies.
Roger's sister Jane, a horsey woman who dresses garishly and makes herself up heavily (there's a great scene where her London townhouse is being blitzed, and when she and Roger are running to a shelter, she goes back to get her makeup kit), is the best character in the book, made even better by her place as a side player, not the heroine.
Roger's college-age brother Jim is a conscientious objector, much to the dismay of the family, but they keep a stiff upper lip. Dora is the Austrian refugee taken in by the family. She is so clearly not what she seems by about page 10, but no matter. This is not Maugham's best book at all, but I still loved every minute of it.
Side note: my cheapy sixties paperback copy is so cheap (how cheap is it? you ask), the title at the top of each page is mis-printed as The Hour Before Dawn, minus the second "the."
Roger's sister Jane, a horsey woman who dresses garishly and makes herself up heavily (there's a great scene where her London townhouse is being blitzed, and when she and Roger are running to a shelter, she goes back to get her makeup kit), is the best character in the book, made even better by her place as a side player, not the heroine.
Roger's college-age brother Jim is a conscientious objector, much to the dismay of the family, but they keep a stiff upper lip. Dora is the Austrian refugee taken in by the family. She is so clearly not what she seems by about page 10, but no matter. This is not Maugham's best book at all, but I still loved every minute of it.
Side note: my cheapy sixties paperback copy is so cheap (how cheap is it? you ask), the title at the top of each page is mis-printed as The Hour Before Dawn, minus the second "the."
June 13, 2012
This is one of the least popular Maugham books but I quite enjoyed it, and if you're a fan of his other novels, you'll probably enjoy it too. The first half is absolutely five stars brilliant. It tells the tale of a family in England during World War II - there is Jane, the eccentric, overly made up, pants wearing daughter, her brother Roger, who married the sweet May, Jim, the second son and a pacifist (which is a dirty word in this family of soldiers) and Tommy, the youngest son. Tommy is head over heels with in love with an Austrian refugee named Dora that the family is hosting.
The second half takes a bit of of turn and some of the actions of the characters seemed too 'out of character' - however - it was still fun reading.
What this book will give you: a sense of being so British you can taste the crumpets, a suicide, an escape from Germany during the war yarn, London bombings, an affair, and a whole lot of family drama - Downton Abby style.
The second half takes a bit of of turn and some of the actions of the characters seemed too 'out of character' - however - it was still fun reading.
What this book will give you: a sense of being so British you can taste the crumpets, a suicide, an escape from Germany during the war yarn, London bombings, an affair, and a whole lot of family drama - Downton Abby style.
April 9, 2016
I picked up this book and couldn't put it down after reading the first page, it was written so beautifully. The story of an almost perfect, loving, normal English family, The Hendersons, torn apart by WWII. What is remarkable about this book is that it was written in 1941 and published in 1942, while the war was going on, and the outcome unknown. Yet, it reads like it was written 5 years later and the conclusion of the war a certainty.
However, I do agree with the 3.5 rating. It is one of those books whose ending isn't satisfying, but tragic. It's Ok if you know that going in, but I didn't. It pulled a "Paul Gallico" on me. Where the story is fascinating but the conclusion leaves something to be desired.
I rounded up to 4 because of the writing and characters, and I loved Jane and May and Jim and Nobby Clark. And Mrs. Henderson who is my age and a "Lady and no mistake, and I don't mind who hears me say it."
However, I do agree with the 3.5 rating. It is one of those books whose ending isn't satisfying, but tragic. It's Ok if you know that going in, but I didn't. It pulled a "Paul Gallico" on me. Where the story is fascinating but the conclusion leaves something to be desired.
I rounded up to 4 because of the writing and characters, and I loved Jane and May and Jim and Nobby Clark. And Mrs. Henderson who is my age and a "Lady and no mistake, and I don't mind who hears me say it."
January 26, 2010
SPOILER ALERT:
Is Dora the clumsiest spy ever or what? She wasn’t realistic. Maybe her follies could have been more subtle if the book had been longer. And what woman wears a monocle, and could wear it and heavy make-up together without having a terrible mess of either? With a little more realism, including eliminating the melodrama, this would have gotten 5 stars, because there was a good deal of suspense and it is otherwise well crafted.
Is Dora the clumsiest spy ever or what? She wasn’t realistic. Maybe her follies could have been more subtle if the book had been longer. And what woman wears a monocle, and could wear it and heavy make-up together without having a terrible mess of either? With a little more realism, including eliminating the melodrama, this would have gotten 5 stars, because there was a good deal of suspense and it is otherwise well crafted.
October 20, 2012
Interesting read. Novel was written in the 1940's so the language used took some adjustment while reading; tThat and it takes place in pre-WWII England. Overall, quick read and entertaining. Not really translatable to today's generation, but once you realize it was a different time 70 years ago, it was a good read.
January 22, 2008
Takes place from the 1st day of WW2 to the Blitz. The time period was interesting to me, I enjoyed the characters. It does suffer from wartime jingoism, but I found that historically interesting(-wicked Germans, fine upstanding Englishmen.)
February 4, 2013
I love this author. I love his writing. I love the oddity of his name and wonder what the story is behind it. That is what drew me to this book when I saw it in a used book store and really enjoyed it. Historical fiction. Mystery. I will re-read it someday.
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