Matrons and Madams

by Sharon Johnston

Clara Durling, a British widow of the First World War, arrives in Canada as the new superintendent of the Lethbridge Hospital just as wounded soldiers stream home. Lily Parsons is a young, widowed schoolteacher from Nova Scotia who ends up in the same city, managing a brothel called The Last Post.

Set against the backdrop of love, union organizers, amorous bachelors, gamblers, drinkers, and prostitutes, the lives of these two women unexpectedly intertwine when Clara, in the heat of local politics and responding to the highest incidence of venereal disease in the province, establishes the first venereal disease clinic in the province, with Lily’s help. In this sprawling saga, Lily and Clara must confront the city’s conservative thinkers to bring help and compassion to wounded veterans.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Ebooks, Canada, Book Club

328 pages, Paperback

First published April 11, 2015

About the author

Sharon Johnston grew up in Sault Ste. Marie and graduated with a degree in physical and occupational therapy from the University of Toronto. She completed a doctorate in rehabilitation science from McGill University and ran a horse-training business called Chatterbox Farm.

Among her many duties as the wife of Governor General David Johnston, Her Excellency finds time to recount the struggles of veterans adjusting to life in Canada after the Great War. Presently, she resides at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.

Reviews

[Marianne Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matrons and Madams by Sharon Johnston is a fiction derived from the life of the author's grandmother. The thirty chapter book spans the years 1912 to 1931. It begins in London, England in 1918 with Clara Durling, a British nurse-mother whose husband dies from complications related to injuries sustained in WW1. Chapter Two switches to 1912, Sydney, Nova Scotia and to Lily Parson who over the course of the novel becomes a widowed teacher-mother. There is an early chapter in New York City with Lily and her sister, Beth but the story is primarily set in Lethridge, Alberta. The action unfolds from both Clara and Lily's point of view with the former's serving the major. Clara becomes the Superintendent of Galt Hospital and Lily, operator of a brothel called The Last Post. As events unfold, a relationship between the women is discovered.

The author tackles a plethora of issues including: Spanish Flu Epidemic; World War One and tragedies suffered by the soldiers; coal mining; suicide; unwed mothers; family secrets; mother-daughter dynamics;suicide; kidnapping;eating disorders;unrealized love; prostitution; venereal disease; prohibition; economic depression; changing political views.

Sharon Johnston chronicles an interesting period in Canadian history and her attention to detail reflects extensive research conducted. In Chapter Eight, she pens a vivid image of the Canadian Shield; Chapter Nine, an excellent depiction of Grosse Ile immigration station in 1919; and Chapter Eleven, a clear picture of the Port of Montreal.

Johnston also draws us into the characters. In Chapter Five, there is a poignant description of Dr. James Barnaby whose war injuries dash his dreams of becoming a surgeon and in Chapter Nineteen, a double-amputee, Dan.

As a recommendation, threading fewer issues and fleshing them out would have deepened understanding of events and heightened the reader's relationship with the story. Nevertheless, Matrons and Madams is a good read.

Marianne Perry
Writing inspired by genealogical research to solve family mysteries.
www.marianneperry.ca

[Juniper · Rating 1 out of 5]

oh boy. file this one, unfortunately, under 'hot mess'; this is such a problematic novel.

it has a great idea at its core, but the book is just not well realized. i am trying to imagine the wrangling the editor had to do to get it to this state, and even then... it's just so... bad. the main character, clara, is inaccessible. she's aloof as a person - the words come out but there's no emotion or hint of oomph from her - and the author really offers no way into the character for readers. there are a crap-ton of threads in this story... many go nowhere, save for the purpose of 'here was this moment in history, i'm going to mention it in the story and tick off this box'.

the focus and voices in the book are all over the place, as is the structure. and the tone is continually patronizing. i understand the very likely intent was to show openness and progressive thinking of a woman in the 1920s, but instead her words and actions constantly come across as condescending and judgemental. at times, it was outright offensive because it felt so clearly pandering. (which i am fairly certain is the complete opposite intention of the author, who i believe to be a lovely, smart and well-intentioned woman.) i have a list, below, of all the different issues johnston glances past in this book. it's a long one. each of these instances were so ineffective. i am not sure - beyond aforementioned history lesson - of her goal? there were no deep explorations, each issue just felt like a opinion placard being waved about.

E.L. Doctorow said this: "Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader—not the fact that it is raining, but the feeling of being rained upon.” and i was reminded of it several times while i read johnston's book, for what was not being delivered.

anyway, i am sorry to be so critical and negative towards this book, it's not something i enjoy. but i am truly wondering how this book got to press like this? also: holy bad title, batman. sigh.




reading notes:

• oh my gosh - nearly every man in this story is short and stocky. save the one guy who was kind of fit. but still short. we are told about the stature, hair and eyes of every man introduced. it's so weird.

• subjects introduced that go next to nowhere - it's like there's a checklist of issues johnston was working through:
◦ sexual abuse by a priest
◦ botched abortion
◦ terrible relationship between clara and her mother, amelia
◦ amelia's ostracization, and complete break from the family
◦ racism
◦ prohibition
◦ gay men
◦ anorexia
◦ suicide
◦ stress eating = fat; being in love = weight loss
◦ residential school abuse
◦ 1929 market crash
◦ misogyny

• things that should be gotten over because nurse clara says so:
◦ quadruple amputations
◦ phantom limb pain
◦ pregnancy out of wedlock
◦ being abused by a priest

• totally patronizing. continuous tone of condescension throughout the story.

[Jemma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written tale based in a post WW1 world – beginning in Britain though the majority of the plot occurs in Lethbridge, Canada. Despite being a huge fan of historical fiction, I haven’t read many books centred around this time period, and ‘Matrons and Madams’ has certainly whetted my appetite.

Clara (though I believe she is named Addy in a former version of this novel) and Lily are two fierce female characters in a time when women were finding their new place in the world after the war – when roles were redefined as the men returned home. War widow Clara moves from Britain to Canada after the tragic loss of her son to become the new superintendent of the hospital in Lethbridge. Another widow from Nova Scotia, young Lily, also moves to Lethbridge but to enter an entirely opposing profession; managing a brothel. Our two protagonists are thrown together in an unlikely mission; establishing a disease clinic to treat those with venereal disease. This heartfelt tale takes us through the journey of Clara and Lily finding themselves in their vocations, confronting love again after tragedy and coping in a world changed irreversibly by the war.

Admittedly, it did take me a short while to become fully immersed in this book, but I am overjoyed that I powered through this feeling. Initially the writing style was slightly off-putting; you are thrown immediately into the midst of Clara and Lily’s lives and this was faintly overwhelming. However, I found that as the story progressed, I became comfortably accustomed to the design and after the first chapter I was hooked.

I savoured the realistic war time setting and felt this novel encompassed the tone of this with creative diligence. This was made all the more intriguing as the contrasting atmospheres of a brothel and a hospital were skilfully intertwined. The characters were portrayed intricately and I found myself forming genuine attachments to our female protagonists in their continuous struggle against disease, society and their new roles in the rapidly changing world.

‘Matrons And Madams’ is full of compassion, loss and eventually, victory – this book is heart-warming and engaging to the last chapter and I fully recommend it to those carrying a passion for war-time fiction.

I received this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

[Mystica · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover does not do the book any justice at all.



Adele is an experienced Matron from the first World War. She was also widowed and then tragically lost her young son to the great flu epidemic that swept across Britain. Adele along with her daughter looks for fresh pastures to get away from all the tragedy and she applies to a hospital in Lethbridge, Canada.



Lily is herself a young married woman looking forward to a bright future comes from Nova Scotia to Lethbridge. She tragically loses her husband in an accident and now this teacher has to find alternate employment to support herself. Failing to find anything, she turns to managing The Last Post - a brothel. She does this with efficiency and compassion.



When Adele and Lily meet they find there is an urgent need to ensure that young women and the men who patronize the brothels must be able to access the hospital's clinic to ensure that venereal disease does not spread rampantly in the province. They have to do this in the face of stiff opposition from the conservative folk of Lethbridge alongside union members, clergy and others who feel that this is just too much for Lethbridge.



Told in the backdrop of war, the story of survival of both Lily and Adele in the face of personal tragedy, their bid for professional success in their respective fields and also eventually finding love again is very nicely told.



The combination of the hospital and the prostitution, bars and brothels of this city are blended well to bring an unusual story to light.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a interesting premise- a story connecting a matron of a hospital and a madam of a brothel (despite the pluralized forms in the title, there is only one of each). I never expected this to be a romance, but given the fact that one of the main characters in the book is a madam I thought there would a least be a bit of sauciness or spice. Besides a few moments of outrage, this book is mostly devoid of all emotion. There are so many topics covered from the death of a child, death of a spouse, suicide, kidnapping, to name just a few that it sounds like it should be a riveting read. But alas, it's mostly a bore. At one point in the book one of the main characters drops her child off to be raised by another family. Then in a matter of a couple of sentences two years pass and she goes off to pick up the child. Just like that. There just aren't any real emotional connections between any of the characters. Any time something horrible has happened, everyone seems to have fully recovered in a couple of pages.

So to sum up, if you like dry, historical reads, then this is just the book for you. But if you are looking for something containing a bit of passion or wit, look elsewhere.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The story of two different strong women during a time when women were undermined and definitely should be home in the kitchen, not running businesses. The story really irked me when the female superintendent was doing everything right and then a new political regime comes in and undermines everything she does.

This story will make you cry, it will make you laugh, and it will make you want to jump right up out of your chair and cheer for the strength these women had.

It is a great read and one that was thoroughly entertaining for me. I was actually really sad for it to end, I wanted to hear more about what happened after they moved up North. But I know, in my mind, they both did well.

Thanks Dundurn and Net Galley for a free E-galley in exchange for an honest review.

[nikkia neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

For some reason, I like books told about the great war era as they call it. This book caught the mood of the time period just right and I learned a lot that will stay with me when I read another book set in the same time period.

[Margaret Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Neat part of history told in an engaging and imaginative fashion.

[Tara Chevrestt]

I did not make it very far. Clara's parts are somewhat interesting, but every time it switches to Amelia's daughter, it becomes a huge info dump. Too much telling, no showing.

[Paula Dembeck · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in what is to become a three-part trilogy written by Sharon Johnston, the wife of the former Governor General of Canada. Johnston has researched the life of her grandmother Adeline Durling to provide this story which focuses on the lives of two women in post-World War I Canada. Johnston, who has a PhD in rehabilitation, says she has tried not only to honor her grandmother’s life and achievements, but to show the lasting effect of war on a family when death, fatherless children, economic hardship and relocation -- often to a different country, extends for three or four generations.

Johnston adored her grandmother and following her death, discovered several letters commending her work as Matron of the Galt Hospital in Lethbridge Alberta. It was a city that began as a mining town and had tolerated the presence of prostitutes, keeping them in a segregated area where they carried out their trade legally, supported by the mayor and police protection. There Durling helped establish the first venereal disease clinic in the province, which had a reputation for the highest STD rates in the country. Many young men in the province had enlisted in the war effort and returned home infected with syphilis and gonorrhea, subsequently spreading it in their communities. The segregated area also housed a substantial Chinese population who ran laundries and restaurants there, as they were another part of society unwelcome in other areas of the city.

Johnston describes the unusual brothels where alcohol was served despite Prohibition, ladies of the night taught themselves how to cook, read to their clients, played cards or gave them dance lessons. In the novel, Lily Parsons is a young widowed school teacher, originally from Truro Nova Scotia, who had moved to Lethbridge after her marriage. When her life changed dramatically, she took on the job of live-in manager at one of the brothels and moved in with her young son.

Johnson’s grandmother Adeline is portrayed by Clara Durling, a nursing sister. She lost her husband George, who was gassed at the Somme and eventually died from his damaged lungs. Shortly afterwards, her five-year-old son Billy died from the flu influenza. Deeply saddened, Clara hoped to begin a new life and moved from London with her four-year-old daughter Ivy, to Lethbridge Alberta where she had agreed to begin work as the Matron of the Galt Hospital. She was tasked with a specific mission, to raise the standards of both nursing and medical practice so the Hospital would be accredited. She has strong support from her ally Dr. Alistair Haywood, the Chairman of the hospital and the mayor of the town, but she also has enemies, those physicians who do not appreciate a woman in their midst with so much power and authority.

The lives of these two women come together, Clara as the Matron of the Hospital and Lily as the Madam of a brothel. An unlikely business and personal friendship emerges as the two find a unique way to keep venereal disease in check through what became known as the Lethbridge Model, an historic first in the country.

In the sprawling but interesting narrative that follows, Johnston fills her story with a backdrop full of events and activity. There is travel in Britain and Canada, by rail and by boat, illegitimate births, domestic and sexual abuse, bar fights, a suicide, an attempted abortion, homosexuality, a custody battle, a kidnapping and machinations over local politics. The fact the two women are widows also means there is romance in store for each of them.

However, the novel does have some issues. First, Johnston does a good job describing the local scenery, the clothing worn, the food eaten, the social and cultural expectations of behavior and the limited role of women before they were given the rights and privileges of equal citizens. But it all comes at a cost. With so much space devoted to those numerous events and activities, little room is left to describe the inner lives of her characters. Their thoughts and emotions are only briefly described, leaving them for the most part, simply sketched.

Secondly the choice of chapter headings often foretells the direction of the narrative that follows, predicting future twists and turns and cutting the pace as readers are given a sense of what happens next before they read about it. Then there are several striking and convenient coincidences which play a heavy hand in the story, affecting the credibility of the narrative and making it feel contrived. That is especially true with the revelations of long past family connections, which are suddenly and unexpectedly revealed with little leadup to when they when they were suspected by the characters involved.

There are two more books planned in the trilogy, the second titled Bread and Roses which takes place during World War II and the final addition, The Boy in Orange Pajamas, which takes place in Toronto in the 19960s and 70s.

All in all, this is ab interesting story, with some faults in its execution, but still an interesting read.

[Pat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fiction based on fact and the life of the author's grandmother as the Nurse Superintendent of the Galt Hospital. Local subject matter was interesting...an English nurse/widow experienced in the Great War WWI comes to Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada to take on the task of Superintendent of the Galt Hospital in 1919. Her life intertwines with the life of her unknown niece (daughter of a disgraced pregnant older sister who was sent to Canada years earlier). The widowed destitute niece never became a prostitute but instead became the Madam of a brothel. Interesting to read local history particularly about the Mayor's liberal attitude about prostitution and ensuring that a red light segregated section was established in Lethbridge to ensure a safe and healthy environment for the women working in the trade. Interesting depiction of the hospital practices, setting up a VD clinic etc.
Amateurish writing style and no real depth to the characters but a good effort to honour and capture the life of her grandmother.

[Kara · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars.

I was interested in the premise of this book, being a fan of historical fiction and strong women. Unfortunately, the writing of this novel fell so flat, and I considered DNFing many times. Major issues are glossed over, the characters have no emotion, and the writing itself was clunky. I appreciate the desire to investigate and honour family history but I cant recommend this as a read.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very quick read and not unlike Nancy Drew stories from my youth. This story lacked depth. It was rather flat where it could have torn at your heartstrings or made you angry. Instead it moved from one incident to the next. The characters were one dimensional. Sorry Sharon, it needs a rewrite.
The best part was at the end where they got to the Sault.

[Megan Cook · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had the potential to be so great but I feel that it fell short. Several events in the book were skimmed over in a chapter covering 2 or so months, and then the next 5 chapters would cover a week's worth of events. Maybe worth the read if you're interested in historic nursing or brothels, but overall not a wonderful read.

[Connie Paddle · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book written by the wife of the former Gov. General. Her grandmother was the matron of the Galt Hospital in Lethbridge during the period of the end of the Great War and the start of the Great Depression. This book is part fiction part fact and entirely enjoyable.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story from the "Wild West" of Canada in the 1920's. The women in the story had hard lives, yet they persevered. An inspiring story of the times.

[Simonew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Such a great read :) A great work of fiction based on fascinating historical facts. Would make a wonderful bookclub book !!

[Lou Zieffle · Rating 2 out of 5]

The idea for the book is very good. The execution in the writing is not. I wish it were though as it could have been a great depiction of Canada in the early 1900's.

[Joan Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely fabulous! Written by the last Governor General’s wife about true events in Canadian history and her grandmother’s life. What outstanding Canadians! Definitely five stars!

[HelenJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting, suspenseful and humorous in parts. This part of Canadian life I had no knowledge of, and really enjoyed the story Sharon Johnston wove coming from her grandmother's experiences.

[Helen Vlastakis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting plot for a book but I felt like the quality of writing and story telling was lacking. I felt it could be more than it was.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could be an interesting story, the writing would benefit from a good editor

[Jean St.Amand · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very enjoyable and interesting story with a much too abrupt ending.

[Barbara Gard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book

[Kimberly Harrop · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this 3.75 but just because I live in Lethbridge.

[Gaele · Rating 3 out of 5]

A World War I era story that starts in the UK and soon moves to Canada, more specifically the outlying city of Lethbridge. There is a curious truism in this story: Canada has always been a hotbed for nurses from Ireland and the UK emigrating to find work, as well as the residents of the maritime provinces of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and PEI who go west seeking work when mining and fishing opportunities are slim. Now the migration is mostly for the oil fields, but there are families who leave impoverished circumstances in the east to seek fortune and employment in the middle of the country.

At the end of World War I, the Canadian men who returned home often needed to travel far for employment. Such was the case for Lily Parsons, a schoolteacher and widow who followed her husband west. Now she is widowed and needs to find a way to support herself. Almost at the same time, Abby Durling, also widowed, has arrived to take the position of superintendent at the new hospital.

The essential story tells the tales of a woman dedicated to the health and well-being of the town coming to work with a woman who manages a successful brothel, and their struggles to deal with high incidences of venereal disease. Lethbridge, like many communities in the 1920’s was not interested in the changes being brought by the out-of-towners in to work and play.

Political battles, the rise of unions, a health crisis and the struggles of two women trying to make lives for themselves against near impossible odds. This is a story of growing pains for both Abby and Lily, but also of a town in the midst of an embarrassing crisis as they struggle to move with the times after war.

Reading this story was a bit slower than I would have expected or hoped: while the concepts were wonderful, the author’s prose is often clunky: events seem to always happen in a this then that then this manner with little connection between them, and the dialogue feels forced and unnatural, even allowing for word use that was more prevalent of the day. More than once I had to put this book down and walk away: there is little introduction and both Lily and Abby sound quite similar despite their differences, so keeping track of stories and events often took some time to come clear. I’m wondering if the rather awkward narration was a result of trying to include so much historical detail and feel, when I believe that the story could have benefitted from more fictionalized thoughts and impressions from both characters as they dealt with each new issue, real or imagined. In looking at the author’s backlist, I see several “how to in ___ steps” stories, which may explain the decided focus on each event remaining just slightly removed from those around it.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

[Waheed Rabbani · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1918 London, 30-year-old nurse Clara hears the long-awaited news: “The war is over!” Having lost her husband in the war, tears of joy and sorrow roll down her cheeks. But she is reconciled by her thought: “I still have my children.” However, when her six-year-old son dies in an influenza pandemic, her double loss is unbearable. With the help of a Canadian surgeon, Clara decides to accept a position as superintendent of the Galt Hospital in Lethbridge, Alberta.

Clara also longs to meet her eldest sister who, when nineteen, had been mysteriously sent to Nova Scotia, and, following the birth of her daughter Lily there, had married a pharmacist. Onboard the transatlantic ship, Clara meets another Nova Scotian, Doctor Barnaby, who coincidentally knew Lily at college. Clara improves the deplorable conditions at the Galt and supports the enamored mayor’s initiatives in ameliorating the living and health conditions of the city’s prostitutes. However, unknown to both Clara and Burnaby, Lily is also in Lethbridge, and ensuing unforeseen circumstances compel her to operate a brothel. Fate unites them to face local prejudices while seeking life mates.

While First Ladies of a country usually write autobiographies, it is fascinating that Her Excellency Sharon Johnston (the Viceregal Consort of Canada) has penned a novel that, somewhat in the style of Isabel Allende, narrates a love story with a political backdrop, set during an important period in Canada, the post WWI era. The reforms in Alberta are boldly narrated, particularly the “Lethbridge model,” which constitutes a unique way of keeping prostitution in check, and the attempts at controlling the spread of VD. Although the writing reads, in part, much like non-fiction, it is the saga of a British-Canadian family that keeps us engrossed. The open ending indicates that a sequel is likely to follow. Highly recommended.

Waheed Rabbani is a historical fiction author, whose books are available on Amazon and elsewhere.

This review first appeared in the Historical Novels Review Issue 72 (May 2015)

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from Dundurn Group via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

What is it about: Clara Durling, widowed by World War I, receives the position as superintendent of Lethbridge Hospital for wounded soldiers in Canada. Her recognized competency, respect of order, and decorum all highly recommend her for the position. Clara quickly finds her position will be one that challenges her like no other one has. Politics, union worker demonstrations, single motherhood, illness, and management can either bring her to her knees or mold her into a strong woman at the height of the bright young things. Lily Parsons' life is intertwined with Clara's in many ways, some not yet known to either woman. Lily's young life has already bore witness to abuse, single motherhood, disappointment in dreams that were lost, and ultimately management of a local brothel. Venereal disease is rampant and the proximity of the hospital to the brothel brings these two women together to found the first venereal disease clinic in the city.

What did I think: The concept of the book was an intriguing one. The author took on too many heavy topics to make it a book that impacts the reader. To list a few: anorexia, sexual abuse by a priest, 1920's market crash, multiple amputations and phantom pain, union politics and intimidation, kidnapping, suicide, botched abortion, family dynamics involving working single mothers, and local corrupt politics. It was a lot for one book to wrap a story around. The main character was emotionally distant through out most of the book which made it difficult to relate to her and find her enjoyable. Some reviewers were bothered by her coldness, moments of condescension, and emotional distance; I tend the think this was a product of what she lived through. Her struggles hardened her and allowed her to resort to cool logic and level thinking.

[Lisa Burbidge · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the concept of this book, set in war time/post WWI Canada, but it fell short of my expectations. What would be some major, pivotal moments in a plot line were simply touched upon nonchalantly, and then the author moved on to something else. While the overall read was enjoyable, there was a noticeable lack of true emotion. Was it because there were just too many major events to dwell on? Maybe paring things down and really driving home the magnitude of some moments would have been a better approach.

I was thoroughly enjoying the book until the very casual "I'm your aunt" (I was hoping for a more exciting revelation) and the humdrum reuniting of Lily and Barnaby. I felt a great deal of anticipation, then suddenly they're back together, then they're married. Just like that. You couldn't even tell if they were overly excited to reunite.

Anyway, the read itself was pleasant, I was just let down with the approach to major moments.

[Julie Ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Behind the provocative and somewhat misleading title, hides a good book. Matrons and Madams is a well-crafted novel that incorporates the history of Alberta, the politics of an infant community growing after WW1 with the lives of two women. Both are independent and have suffered in different ways.
I loved the story and grew to understand and empathize with the women. Author, Sharon Johnston, digs deep into her characters while maintaining the tension and pace that keep the reader turning the pages. She uses humour and crises to flesh out the women and the people with whom they interact. They make mistakes, achieve wonders, and overcome problems as the plot unfolds.
Recommended!