The Marriage Bureau: The True Story of How Two Matchmakers Arranged Love in Wartime London

by Penrose Halson

Alternate cover edition for 9780062562661

A riveting glimpse of life and love during and after World War II—a heart-warming, touching, and thoroughly absorbing true story of a world gone by.

In the spring of 1939, with the Second World War looming, two determined twenty-four-year-olds, Heather Jenner and Mary Oliver, decided to open a marriage bureau. They found a tiny office on London’s Bond Street and set about the delicate business of matchmaking. Drawing on the bureau’s extensive archives, Penrose Halson—who many years later found herself the proprietor of the bureau—tells their story, and those of their clients.

From shop girls to debutantes; widowers to war veterans, clients came in search of security, social acceptance, or simply love. And thanks to the meticulous organization and astute intuition of the Bureau’s matchmakers, most found what they were looking for.

Penrose Halson draws from newspaper and magazine articles, advertisements, and interviews with the proprietors themselves to bring the romance and heartbreak of matchmaking during wartime to vivid, often hilarious, life in this unforgettable story of a most unusual business.

“A book full of charm and hilarity.”—Country Life

Genres: Nonfiction, History, World War II, War, Biography, Romance, Book Club

352 pages, Paperback

First published March 24, 2016

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those reads that I quickly snapped up during a book sale because of its interesting premise. A nonfiction that reads like fiction due to the author incorporating dialogue in between the historical documents and details. Penrose Halson's introduces us to Heather Jenner and Mary Oliver, two British women who decided to open a matchmaking service in 1939 and continued throughout the war. What were women and men looking for in a mate during this time period? Love? Security? Investment Opportunity?

Well, it turns out a little of everything determined what men and women were looking for in a life partner. Several chapters detail the different memorable people that the ladies encountered. I loved the appendices which talk about what each gender was looking for in the other and well most of what I read could easily be transferred to a Tinder profile today.

I couldn't help but think about what an enjoyable television series this would make!


Goodreads review published 01/06/20

[Margarita Garova · Rating 3 out of 5]

“…almost any husband would be better than none”

В навечерието на Втората световна война, две англичанки - Мери Оливър и Хедър Дженър, извършват истинска революция в сватосването – на Ню Бонд Стрийт отваря врати бюро за запознанства – твърде деликатна работа, до този момент извършвана по обяви във вестниците. Скоро бюрото пожънва огромен успех – социалният натиск и върху двата пола по въпроса за задомяването, е огромен. Родителите не искат или не могат да търпят в дома си застаряваща неомъжена дъщеря, или според сполучливия идиом „on the shelf“. За мъжете физическата самота, наличието на деца от предишен брак и нуждата от грижи за дома изисква непременно да имат до себе си добра партньорка.

Избухването на Втората световна война още повече увеличава клиентелата на двете сватовници. Освен чисто емоционалния аспект да имаш до себе си другарче, с което да споделяте бисквитка и чаша чай, докато Луфтвафе пуска бомби, се появяват и по-практични подбуди. Семейните мъже получават повиквателна за фронта едва след несемейните, а на военните вдовици се начислява нарочна пенсия.

С напредването на блица над Лондон се променят и критериите към бъдещите партньори. Изискванията към външния вид отстъпват пред качества, сред които са отдаденост, смелост, съпричастие, лоялност, чувство за дълг.

Интересни, но не и изненадващи, са изводите, които можем да изведем от класификацията на банката с кадри – на първо място стои критерият по класова принадлежност, като двете дами наистина се стараят да свързват хора със сходен социален произход. Естествено, това не изключва липсата на социални катерачи и от двата пола.

Търсенето на партньор не винаги съвпада с търсенето на любов. Не мога да определя дали това е заради военновременната реалност или поколенческа особеност (чувала съм немалко истории за двойки от онова време, събрани от желанието да споделят заедно трудностите). Историите са най-различни – обикновени, абсолютно изумителни, с щастлив край, с нещастен край.

Заради тясната тематика, книгата спокойно може да бъде пропусната, въпреки само по себе си интересното историческо време. Добър пример за поджанра микроистория, който отдавна има своята ниша от почитатели в други страни. Допадна ми и леко приповдигнатия и архаичен език; извадих си интересни изрази за личния архив.

„…the circumstances of war alter everything. They bring all aspects of life into sharper focus, so that in a curious way they simplify matters. When you are acutely aware that you may well not exist tomorrow, you do today what before the war you might have contemplated for months before taking any action.”

[Shelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining non-fiction that reads as fiction. I liked that it was more of a breezy read and not heavy non-fiction, but the way it was written made me wonder how much was fact and how much was the imagination of the author.

[Christina McLain · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great, fast read about two enterprising young women who started a matchmaking service in 1939 for lonely-hearted British men and women. Their clients ranged from members of the aristocracy to ordinary working class people and the descriptions of some of the matches made are quite entertaining while others are poignant or even tragic. What made the book interesting to me were the sociological issues detailed here. It is sad to note that so many women of this time, young and old, had no means of attaining financial or psychological independence. Most people did not value education for women and most decent jobs were reserved for men. Some of the clients of the bureau were girls turfed out of their homes by hostile step-parents, or young women shunned by those around them for being "old maids" and financial drains on their families. Many of these women were also desperate for security as there were very few jobs paying more than a pittance. Many men were very lonely too especially servicemen or those widowed as their wives had died in childbirth or from illnesses, and both sexes seemed predisposed to marry very quickly. Surprisingly, most of these marriages lasted, as attested by the dozens of thank-you letters and presents received over the years by Heather Jenner and Mary Oliver who owned and ran the agency. What I didn't like about this book is that it never delved below the surface and the descriptions of the match-ups became increasingly repetitive and unmemorable. This story has been compared to Call the Midwife but Midwife is grounded in the culture of postwar East End London and has several really interesting main characters in it, whereas this book tells us almost nothing about the co-owners of the bureau. In fact Mary Oliver decides to leave England for America. suddenly in middle of the story and is barely mentioned again. Had the author gone a little deeper the book would have been so much better.

[Penny · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Social History and looked forward to reading this - I was curious to see how a Marriage Bureau ever got going in 1940s England.
The first part was interesting although I rapidly got tired of being repeatedly told how tall, cool and gorgeously blonde Heather was and how petite, vivacious and dark haired Mary was.
The book then dived into sugary 'lurve' stories which I quickly tired of.
And Penrose Halson certainly loves an adjective! Why use one when you can use at least three??
Sorry, but the whole book was just too light and fluffy with no depth.

[Alison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of reading this book before it was published! I found it in a charity shop and immediately read it to get the inside scoop on the soon-to-be published book. While the idea of the book is inspired and really fascinating, the style of writing made it seem like a casual, "fly-book" or women's lit book. I wasn't challenged or felt like I really learned anything.

It felt so light that I wasn't really convinced it was 100% true either--which is what I was hoping for. It says non-fiction, but between the made-up names and one-sided account of everything, I had a hard time believing what I was reading. I love the Jennifer Worth "Call the Midwife" books (which this book says it is similar to), so I had hoped this would be in similar fashion, but Worth gives more historical data and grounds me as a reader with reality and not sugar-coated accounts of war-time London and what these people were facing.

A quick read, and enjoyable for those who love women's lit. I just wanted a little more depth and history than what this gave me.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love historical fictional from the WWII genre and found The Marriage Bureau a very interesting read ... the original concept of 'match.com!' Thank you for the galley!

[CatReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Penrose Halson is a British writer; her 2016 book The Marriage Bureau, which was released under a different title, Marriages Are Made in Bond Street: True Stories from a 1940s Marriage Bureau in the UK, profiles a matchmaking service founded and run by two entrepreneurial and independent-minded young British women in the 1930s and 1940s. This book is engagingly-written, conversational and witty with what I suppose is British humor, as various clients of the service are profiled in interconnected vignettes. Many stories are humorous (as you might expect in a modern-day story of dating disasters); some are quite tragic, as the bureau continued operating in the midst of the second world war and whilst London was actively being bombed. I appreciated the historical elements that highlighted how remarkably ordinary people behaved during such challenging times. However, I did wonder how many of the stories were filled in with Halson's suppositions, vs. how much was drawn from historical records, in the effort to make the stories flow so smoothly.

Further reading: the British homefront during the Second World War
The Children of Willesden Lane. Beyond the Kindertransport: A Memoir of Music, Love, and Survival by Mona Golabek
How to Win an Information War: The Propagandist Who Outwitted Hitler by Peter Pomerantsev
GI Brides: The Wartime Girls Who Crossed the Atlantic for Love by Duncan Barrett and Nuala Calvi
The Secret Lives of Codebreakers: The Men and Women Who Cracked the Enigma Code at Bletchley Park by Sinclair McKay

My statistics:
Book 311 for 2025
Book 2237 cumulatively

[Tara DuBose-Schmitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

You’d think this was the premise of a Hallmark movie, but it actually happened. Perhaps BBC should look into making a series.

[Kris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting subject matter and was intrigued with this book because I had no idea that there was such a real business as this Marriage Bureau. It is a 1930s pre "online dating" concept. But the book was poorly written. It bored me after awhile.

[Susanne Latour · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ I enjoyed the audio version of this interesting non-fiction story of two women, Mary Oliver and Heather Jenner who opened up a match making service in England in 1939. Think early Tinder except more wholesome. Many chapters detailed some of their most memorable clients and they reasoning why they were looking for someone and what they were looking for in a partner.

[Marlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published at Reading Reality

Fiction may be the lie that tells the truth, but sometimes that truism runs headlong into another, the one that goes, “The truth is not only stranger than we imagine, it’s stranger than we CAN imagine.” Fiction has to actually feel plausible, or it turns the willing suspension of disbelief into the unwilling, and bounces the reader out of the story. Nonfiction doesn’t have to be plausible, it just has to be true.

The history of The Marriage Bureau is one of those stories that would feel a bit too contrived if it were fiction. But it isn’t. Fictional, that is. It still feels a bit contrived, but because it actually did happen, the reader ends up marveling at human nature in all its sometimes crazy variety (much as the proprietors did) instead of picking apart the characters.

Because if these folks weren’t real, we’d all be sure it was a bit too good or too strange to be true. Mostly strange.

Not bad strange, just, well, people.

In 1939, both Heather Jenner and Mary Oliver had dipped their toes into the marital well, and come out either scalded or completely tepid. Heather was divorced and Mary hadn’t found anyone she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. Or even more than few weeks with.

It was Mary’s Uncle George who suggested the idea that became the Marriage Bureau. Providing a registry for people who were looking for spouses, and using interviews, common sense and intuition to match people up, had the possibility of providing both young women with both an independent income and a purpose in life, allowing them to remain single and independent of their families while providing a much needed service.

A service that was much more needed than either of them anticipated. From their very first day the line for interviews went down the stairs from their rented office and practically out the door of the building, three stories below.

The story in The Marriage Bureau is that of the first ten years of the Bureau, a period that encompasses the end of Empire, the Phoney War, the London Blitz and the years of post-war rationing. Through it all, Londoners and many others crossed the threshold of the Marriage Bureau, hoping that the ladies of the Bureau could do for them what they had not managed to do for themselves, find a congenial and suitable spouse.

One of the fascinating things about the way that the Bureau worked was that, unlike many British institutions, particularly of that era, it was not restricted to class. The fees were modest, and structured so that it was in the agency’s best interest to find each client a spouse who would suit them, not anyone else’s ideas for them.

Yes, most people were looking for someone of their own class, or close to it, but the Bureau had clients of every class and station from working to landed to titled and all the gradations in between. Just as today, those who are too busy making a living or caring for others or a combination of the above are often too busy, too shy or both to put themselves out where they have a chance at finding a life-partner.

And for the women who ran the Bureau over that decade (and beyond) it was a labor of love. And a rousing success.

Reality Rating B: The story in The Marriage Bureau is episodic rather than a continual narrative. The story dips into the lives, loves and ambitions of the people who came the Bureau as clients, rather than delving deeply into the lives of its proprietors and agents. Although the years of the London Blitz are part of the story, we read more of the Blitz’s impact on people’s lives and their desire to marry than we follow any one person’s story.

Being a series of dips rather than a deep dive, the story is not a compelling read. One isn’t riveted, wanting to see what happens next, because the narrative doesn’t follow individuals in the way that compels. However, and it is a very big however in this case, it is both easy to dip into and out of, and the story as a whole is quite charming. Even the more “interesting” and less matchable clients get their due. And while there is a certain amount of shared laughter at some clients’ wilder expectations, every client and their story are treated with respect, sometimes including a direct “talking to” about just how wild their expectations might be. And sometimes they are very wild, whether for self-aggrandizement, out of self-absorption, or, on occasion, out of sympathy and hope.

It isn’t all sweetness and light. There are a few stories where the clients tipped over (or barged over) the line, and got shown the door. There is one haunting story of parental interference in what should have been a happily ever after. And, of course, life happens. The war brings an end to some marriages, and the peace brings an end to a few more. Some merely grieve, but some return in the hopes of striking lucky a second time.

In the end, this is a story of two women and the execution of one great idea. And it’s a story that shows that there is someone out there for everyone, even if we occasionally need a little help with the looking.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief glimpses of the more interesting clients from the first marriage bureau in England. Some strange, some heartbreaking, lots of happily ever afters, all told with a dry British wit.

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as interesting as I thought it would be. The stories often grew tedious.

[Margaret Gerberding · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting non fiction book about two young women who started a marriage bureau in London in 1939. The bureau lasted into the 1990's, when it merged with another marriage bureau. Full of touching stories of love and hardship during WWII especially.

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, true stories of marriage matchmakers in 1940s London. Delightfully grounded in that time and place. A quick, enjoyable read.

[Debra Schoenberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super interesting and exceedingly entertaining. A bit of British history beginning in 1939 through WWII.

[Jane Dugger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very entertaining; although it was difficult keeping the names straight.

[Perryapril2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rarely read non-fiction so I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It is written in such a way that I would forget that it was based on a true story, it almost seemed fictionalized which made it so fascinating.

What a crazy idea to set up during WWII, yet at the same time was a genius idea. How else were service men and even women to meet when the men were off fighting the war in abstract locations and the women were working at home. (The bureau was in England). The stories related in this book are fascinating- people meeting for one date and engaged the next. The specific traits that some people required of a future spouse, or the urgency of marriage during a time of an unknown future)...Or the tragedy of war in the lives of some of the clients (fiancés dying in bombings, or people returning back from the war broken etc). I think this is the aspect that I most enjoyed about this book- that although written as a story, these were real life stories/events! I have read several fictionalized stories about WWII from the view point of the Jews, or from people affected by Nazi occupation , but never from the perspective of normal citizens who have to continue to live “normal” lives all while bombing goes on around them. And these were real stories!!! This is a great book! I wish I could get to know Mary, Heather and Dorothy!

We read this for book club and it was a great book to read and discuss!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An utterly charming non-fiction tale of a unique business born of an off-the-cuff idea by the beloved Uncle George of one the founders of The Marriage Bureau on New Bond Street, London, in 1939. To come were countless marriages handled so intimately that it makes one wish to be single in order to step through the doors in order to be assured of being looked after so astutely and carefully that being matched with your one true love was quite likely. Full of history, pictures and anecdotes I found this book truly engaging and absorbing. I longed to step back in time and meet these original matchmakers who took their missions so seriously that on the tenth anniversary of their opening there were only two divorces among thousands of marriages. A lovely book.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book chronicles the start of the Marriage Bureau in London before and during WWII. The author describes the business and goes into tale after tale of the various people who used their services to find a spouse. It was very interesting to hear about so many different people and their stories. While it was interesting history, I didn't find it the easiest style to get through, thus the 3 stars.

[Kelsey (Bookishly Nerdy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

TW: war, domestic abuse, rape, suicide

I really enjoyed my time with this book! It was written in such a way that was so creative and assessable. I was so wrong about what I thought this book was about, but I am so happy I was. The history of the bureau and how it got started was so fascinating!

This bureau takes place during WW2, so it is not a happy time period to talk about. But, this was a small light in the darkness and I loved how hopeful everyone included in this story is.

[JD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Old-timey Tinder. Fun and easy read. Reading about what people wanted in a partner reinforces the notion that marriage is a way to build a more manageable and functional life, not some fairy tale soulmate-finding exercise.

[Jessica - How Jessica Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a super fun, breezy light nonfiction story about the establishment of a London marriage bureau. It was perfect before-bed reading — interesting, but not so interesting as to keep me up too late. 🙂

[Jessica (thebluestocking) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to be very readable, with an interesting premise. This is a nonfiction account of a matching-making company established in London in 1939. The stories are interesting, but the book as a whole left me wanting something more. The writing was repetitive and confusing at times, and there wasn’t really a thread to pull the whole thing together. It’ll hopefully make for interesting book club discussion, though.

[Stefanie Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heather Jenner and Mary Oliver opened a matchmaking business in Bond Street, London. These women had a goal of helping men from various walks of life and career paths find love and marriage in the UK. I never knew this business existed, and, as a World War II major, I was very interested in this book. I think people forget that matchmaking was a legitimate business and cultural phenomenon and still is in some cultures. Today, we have dating apps that are owned by companies, which is essentially matchmaking for the modern age. This book drew from a host of historical documents, personal accounts, and newspaper reports. I thought the author did a really great job of conveying the information.

[Rachel Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming read that would make a great tv show with each episode being a different match while also telling the story of Heather and Mary running the bureau.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, sometimes sad or shocking, stories. I thought it was fiction when I picked it up, so I was startled by the non-fic tone, but it quickly got interesting and I’m glad I stuck it out.

[Kathleen (Kat) Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who would have thought that two women who simply didn't want to get married themselves would find a way to eke out living just before World War II? Heather Jenner and Mary Oliver both had everything to offer a man who was searching for a wife, both good looks, education and a willing heart for romance, only both of them wanted nothing to do with finding suitable matches for their own hearts, but felt they could match up their friends and family with men they knew overseas that were looking for love, but because of the short duration of their military leaves, didn't have much time to get to know someone before they were shipped back. So an idea was formed to create a perfect place to help love find the right match.

The Marriage Bureau began in a small office in England and they would charge either parties a small fee to find them a suitable partner. While they couldn't guarantee a marriage, they would interview each potential client and find out what they were looking for in a suitable spouse. Then they would send correspondence to both parties to see if they wanted to write one another and decide if a date might be in order. Those that didn't work out, would simply be sifted back into the pile for other possible matches. Along the lines there were plenty of difficult clients to try and find suitable matches for as well as those that were the basis for their business, to find them someone to marry. Often times in as little as 4 days for dating and on the 5th day, marriage. Clients that found their suitable partner were required to pay a Marriage Fee.

It was quite the lucrative business just before the war began, and once the war did, the girls had to get creative in how to keep their business afloat or risk being forced to give it all up. But what the war did was inspire many men to get married quickly so they would have someone to come home to or at least write to during the time they were deployed. From the wealthy elite, to those who were the poorest of the poor, matches were found. Even in the midst of the war, the girls used their skills to turn in clients that might be using their service as spies for the enemy under the guise of looking for love. This is where services like Match.com or eHarmony got their humble beginnings.

I received The Marriage Bureau by Penrose Halston compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers. This is the true story compiled by hours of research garnered by Penrose using newspaper articles, advertisements, film, photographs, letters and books to bring this book to life. From war veterans and widows, to debutantes and shopgirls, each was looking for love and the promise of a future with someone suited just for them. This was the birth of matchmaking based on the true stories of the two women who made it all possible for love to be found in the midst of war in an unforgettable story and most unusual business. I absolutely LOVE the section at the conclusion of the book that shows what women and men's requirements were to become a client in addition to the interview comments from 1939 to 1940. There is even a discussion guide that would make this a perfect book club selection. I give this a 4 out of 5 stars and gives us a look at history we never knew existed before.

[Monique Snyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before Tinder there were the Classifieds, but there were dating services even before then ... Marriages are Made in Bond Street: True Stories from a 1940s Marriage Bureau by Penrose Halson is a book that explains how two young women opened a bureau to match people together during mankind's worst war. In a world where death and destruction oppressed society, there was still a shiny beacon of hope, and Penrose Halson did a magnificent job in compiling a story told by one of the founders of Bond Street's marriage bureau.

I don't read a lot of non-fiction in general, but sometimes I come across a book that's nice to read in between all the fiction. Something real, you know? I can't read non-fiction in one sitting, either (no idea why), so it takes me a while to get through them. Marriages are Made in Bond Street was a fun, uplifting, piece of history that sat on my bedside table for weeks. Every night I would read a few pages, or one of those stories where love and happiness was found, and then I remembered how incredibly difficult it must have been considering the time. To smile. To fall in love. To know it could end at any moment ... Yes, these women did a great job, but my hats go off to those folks who took the plunge and gambled so wholly with their hearts, knowing that at any moment the Nazi's could drop another bomb and end it all.

I love that there was still hope.

Furthermore, this book isn't weighed down with facts or terrible things (usually found in books revolving around that time). The author assumes those who pick up this book knows what World War II was about (I love that, because everyone should know their history), knows the sacrifices that were made, and knows that love in the time of war doesn't have to mean a wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am-sorry-but-I-gotta-go-dodge-some-bullets affair. I love the insight into this horrific time, where something as innocent as love could still be obtained.

This isn't a book for everyone, I'll admit. But if you're looking for a book about real love stories, for finding happiness no matter how dire the circumstances, well this one is definitely for you.

Review originally posted at: