What Kathleen Did

by Jill McRae-Spencer

It is 1929 and 18-year-old Kathleen, from a prosperous middle-class London home, travels with her friend Alice to Devon for a holiday. While there she meets Jim Wilcox, a tenant farmer, and Robert Neville, heir to Alston Manor, the landlord. While Jim views a wife as subject to a husband’s will, as his property, Robert sees a husband’s role as protector.

Declaring she wants to ‘do’ something and not marry the first young man who comes along, Kathleen represents the modern woman. A most significant issue post war concerned the place of women in society. The press ran headlines such as ‘Our Surplus Women’ and the 1921 census confirmed that women outnumbered men by almost two million. The independent woman was for many men an alarming prospect. Marriage was considered the norm and to be left on the shelf a humiliation.

Seduced by Jim, Kathleen finds she is pregnant. She therefore finds that the choices she hoped to be able to make about her future are no longer possible due to her circumstances. She must become a farmer's wife for the sake of her child but this will be a hard and harsh life with few of the opportunities she had longed for. Her feelings for Robert will also be a constant reminder of a different and potentially happier life for her. It is with the start of the next war that a whole new future will suddenly open up for Kathleen, but her escape to a new life will come at a considerable cost.

393 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 5, 2024

Reviews

[Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting read, a bit of a history lesson through the lens of one woman. After a silly mistake as a young girl, that led to a disastrous marriage, we follow Kathleen as she makes her way in life in the 1930-46 years. Life isn’t easy for a lot of people, and there are extra issues women face. The saga in the divorce case was an eye opener. The female characters in this book were diverse, but friendship and tenacity shone through. The ending was great, but a bit of a cliffhanger…maybe the potential for a sequel. Thanks to NetGalley for a chance to read and review this book.

[Ethel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Were young women more naive in 1929 when we first come across 18 year old Kathleen? Was society's convention so simple then that marriage (at any cost) was the golden opportunity for women? What made Kathleen think that she was a "modern" women? Making the wrong choice of man to marry as she had no choice was a bitter mistake. It's interesting to go back in time and read how the "modern" woman made such choices, made such mistakes and what the consequences were. I was born in the 40's, yes my life was simple back then, yes girls married at an earlier age and then by the time I was married came the "new, bra burning" woman. We've come a long way baby, but I don't know if today's female is any better off. Reading this book gave me pause to think. My daughters, both in their 50's are not like the mother in "Leave It To Beaver," however they weren't as naive as Kathleen either. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sven · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very unusual book, What Kathleen did is about a woman who is dealt lemons, but rises above all odds to become a powerful advocate and voice during a time when women were in the nascent stage 9f fighting for their place in society.

I loved her mil, and Robert was just such an amazing man.

#netgalley #WhatKathleenDid

[June Maddock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly good read.
Coming from a farming background and knowing the area made it even better.
Can't wait for the followup.