Intrigues of Jennie Lee: A Novel

by Alex Rosenberg

A real political figure, Jennie Lee, was elected to parliament aged just 24, five years too young even to vote in 1929 Britain. From the Labour backbenches, she hurled barbs and bolts of thunder at the likes of Winston Churchill, Lady Astor, even her own party’s Prime Minister, Ramsay McDonald. The novel intertwines real events with a fictional personal story involving Elizabeth Bowes-Lyons--the future Queen Mother, the womanizing fascist Oswald Mosley, the Great War prime minister Lloyd-George, and the radical Labour MP Aneurin Bevan. A series of political and intimate intrigues turn history into thriller when Jennie has the chance to radically change the course of history for Britain, Europe and the world.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Politics, Historical, Fiction

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 29, 2020

About the author

Alex Rosenberg's first novel, "The Girl From Krakow," is a thriller that explores how a young woman and her lover navigate the dangerous thirties, the firestorm of war in Europe, and how they make sense of their survival. Alex's second novel, "Autumn in Oxford" is a murder mystery set in Britain in the late 1950s. It takes the reader back to the second world war in the American south and England before D-day, France during the Liberation and New York in the late '40s. It will be published by Lake Union in August.

Before he became a novelist Alex wrote a large number of books about the philosophy of science, especially about economics and biology. These books were mainly addressed to other academics. But in 2011 Alex published a book that explores the answers that science gives to the big questions of philosophy that thinking people ask themselves--questions about the nature of reality, the meaning of life, moral values, free will, the relationship of the mind to the brain, and our human future. That book, "The Atheist's Guide to Reality," was widely reviewed and was quite controversial.

When he's not writing historical novels, Alex Rosenberg is a professor of philosophy at Duke University.

Reviews

[Don Gerstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a look at “what if this happened” within British politics in the early part of the 20th Century. As a historical fiction, author Alex Rosenberg has taken the liberty to rewrite history and create a political storm. Centered in this drama is Jennie Lee, who has so many secrets than one false move could cause her entire career to come crashing down.

This was my first meeting with almost all of the characters, and it is a bit sad to realize that I didn’t learn as much about this era in British politics as I would have liked. Mr. Rosenberg’s imagination makes up for that, and as the story began to unfold I found myself drawn into the action. When you consider her political work as well as her after hours trysts, Jennie has more on her plate in her first few year in politics than most of us can imagine handling in a lifetime.

While definitely a work of fiction, “The Intrigues of Jennie Lee” captures the politics of the day and offers a glimpse of a woman’s efforts to navigate the political waters at a time in history when a woman elected to public office was more of a rarity than it is today. Four stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and John Hunt Publishing for a complimentary electronic copy of this book.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, her story is motivation to learn more about her real life and the great influence she had in the history of the United Kingdom.

Read full review in the 2020 Summer issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Courtney Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

The curious part of this novel is that the characters are real people, who were actually involved in politics in the UK in the 1920s and 30s, and their true lives are somewhat mixed with a wild imagining of the author to make a political and historical thriller that is fascinating and moreish without question. Indeed, it was somewhat disappointing to see how much of the piece was imagined and how much was reality, as the novel reads so realistically.

In this story it starts with how Jennie Lee is conceived, which is in a manner fitting to a Scottish couple who believed in eugenics and brought up to be forthright and opinionated from a very early age, encouraged by parents who were enlightened and eager for her to make a mark on the world. Jennie was elected to the British parliament at the age of almost 25, making her five years too young to actually have voted for herself, the voting age for women being 30 years of age at the time (oh my!) She was a firebrand and held high ideals that often led to disruption within her own political party. And she was a woman of the world, living a life unfettered by social rules and expectations for her sex. Involved with both married men and others as the won't take her fancy, liberated and viewing herself as equal to men in every way, refusing to be pigeonholed. Through her personal relationships with royalty and political dealings, Jennie finds herself caught in the middle of a dangerous game of political intrigue and has the savvy to alter the course of the world through her socialist leanings and ability to see situations clearly and take courses of action that might have been missed by other people.
It's not often that the past is so convincingly wrapped up in a story that would hold the attention of many a modern person who reports to hating history, but this book is one that does the job admirably. With the likes of British bulldog in the making Winston Churchill, American turned first sitting female politician Lady Astor, first Labour Prime Minister Ramsay McDonald, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyons, the future Queen Mother, the womanizing fascist Oswald Mosley; the Great War prime minister Lloyd-George; and the radical Labour MP Aneurin Bevan all featuring in the story, it is a case of having your computer next to you to see how much is real and how much is fictional as you read this page-turner.

It is enthralling, lively and has the potential to have elements of reality scattered throughout the story, making it both a thriller of a story and a thriller in reading the lives of the very real people written about. Clever, exciting and powerful, this is a book not to be missed.

[Andrea Hicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to Alex Rosenberg, John Hunt Publishing Ltd and NetGalley for the ARC. Intriguing and captivating, this alternative history to the one we know is an unusual take on events. Clearly if you're a purist it's possible you might not appreciate a history-changing time being overturned, but we must remember this is a fiction, a very well written fiction at that and an insight perhaps into the way people were thinking at the time. I'm not sure there was a character with which I felt much empathy. Jennie Lee, the main protagonist, sleeps with married men because she does not want to be held down by the possibility of a marriage proposal or having children. Her political leanings are far more important to her. She discovers her father is Ramsey MacDonald, someone who leads her own party, but with whom she has no sympathy or agreement. She does everything she can to bring him down, even finding herself within Oswald Mosley's set. Most of the fiction is based in fact; it is documented that Mosley was a womaniser with questionable morals and very seductive to both women and men with his ideas. This novel reimagines his rise to fame, with his becoming leader of the Labour party, which of course did not happen, and his comparison to Hitler and his beliefs. Jennie I felt was very mature for a woman of only twenty-four and I felt her ability to garner support and adoration from more sophisticated and learned MPs was questionable. She may have had the academic background but certainly I was not convinced she had the maturity to win people over to her way of thinking, like Winston Churchill for example. Having said that, The Intrigues of Jennie Lee was a compelling read.

[Annette Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Intrigues of Jennie Lee by Alex Rosenberg is an intriguing alternative historical fiction, set in the turbulent period between the two World Wars. It follows the story of Jennie Lee, a young Scottish woman elected to Parliament as a Labour MP in 1929. It is a difficult time, the Great Depression is being felt around the globe and Fascism is rearing it's head on continental Europe. The author has re- imagined history to create a Britain where Oswald Mosely becomes Prime Minister and is involved in an intrigue which includes not just Jennie but also prominent figures like Elizabeth Bowes Lyons , Duchess of York and future Queen Mother, and former Prime Minister Lloyd George. As well as a political thriller, the author has created a compelling character in his version of Jennie , she is principled, determined and unwilling to accept the limitations society placed on her sex. I was completely hooked by her story with its many twists and turns . Overall a clever and excellently crafted work of fiction that puts a new spin on the political thriller.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

[Mick Dubois · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book starts out in 1904 with the seduction of Labour Leader, Ramsay Mac Donald, by a Scottish Hotelier wife who, 9 months later gives birth to Jenny Lee. No-one is to know of this indiscretion. As the daughter of a miner’s union leader, she’s interested in politics and socialism from an early age on and in 1929 she’s elected as an MP for Labour. Her maiden speech makes an impression on Sir Oswald Mosley and the attraction is mutual. She also has a long-lasting affair with fellow MP, Frank Wise.
When she goes on a trip through Russia as a part of the Labour delegation, she’s seriously disorientated by what she sees and experiences there. She’s still certain about what she wants for everybody but doesn’t really know how to get there any longer. When she goes on a lecture tour through America and Canada, she also experiences the good and bad sides of life over there.
After the Wall Street crash in 1930, Mosley who was on the left side of the party (as Jenny also is) has revolutionary ideas about how to deal with the mass unemployment but the Labour Leader doesn’t want to know about it. Eventually, he’s put outside of the party and begins his own new political party
Also unknown to the rest of the world, when she was a child she befriended the aristocratic Elisabeth Bowes-Lyon (yes, we know her now as the queen mom) who’s now married to King George’s second son, Albert. Elizabeth hasn’t forgotten Jenny and takes an interest in her political career. And when her husband secretly and illegally wants to support the politics of Mosley, Jenny is forced (between blackmail and friendship) to act as a go-between.
Apart from being the secret daughter of Mac Donald and the friendship with the Duchess of York, the historical facts are rigidly observed until this point. It’s here that both versions part their ways. When Jenny learns about the intended betrayal of her party’s leader, she has the opportunity to act and by doing so, she changes (unknowingly) the course of history. But is this a change for the better? What if it’s the start of something that’s worse?

I love historical books that merge truth with fiction. Certainly, those books that make you ask yourself “what if?” this or that happened differently, what would have been the immediate effects and what would it mean on a longer plane? The former can be scientifically calculated, but for the latter, you must not only start out with a whole new premise but also count various unknown variables into the equation.
I must admit that I’ve done quite a lot of looking up while reading this book. Although the main characters were familiar, I’m not all that well versed in British interbellum period politics. Actually, it was a delight to get to know those colourful people that populate the historical reality and see what the author has done with those facts in an alternate universe. It’s not as if you won’t enjoy the book if you don’t know those things, but for me, it brought an extra enjoyment that I did a bit of reading about the period and the people.
The differences between life in the early Soviet Union, America and Britain are clearly described and the inequality that exists in each model gives food for thought. If not for the war, how would each society have evolved? The desperation in Russia, the racial segregation and blatant racism in the USA as the stark difference between the aristocracy and the working/unemployed masses in Britain all contained a basic injustice that could have been the feeding ground for a revolution.

This is an amazing historical political thriller of high quality that is written in an entertaining style. Politics are constantly mentioned but not in a boring or pedantic way. After all, it’s important to know who those people are and what they stand for. Jenny Lee is a charming and engaging character and was so in real life. This book possesses every quality to be made into a period movie or TV-series. If they do, I’ll certainly watch.
I thank NetGalley and John Hunt Publishing Ltd for the free ARC they provided and this is my honest review of it.

[Mark taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got The Intrigues of Jennie Lee: A Novel by Alex Rosenberg, from Netgalley for a fair and honest review.

This is an alternative history, novel set in the UK during the the early 1930’s when Ramsay MacDonald, the then Labour Prime Minister left the party and formed a national unity government, with the other parties at the urging of King George V. What book does is that Jennie Lee, who does not know that MacDonald is her biological farther takes this event and sends Britten in another direction.

What Alex Rosenberg did in this novel is write a great political novel up to and even better than, Michael Dobbs book, House of Cards. However what this novel does is use real people and just change one event that takes Britten in another direction.

When I started reading The Intrigues of Jennie Lee: A Novel, I knew very little of history of that time, as I had not studied this specific period in British history, I had heard of the major historical charectors, and i am sure a quick internet search would help any reader find about the individuals, however this is not something you need to to as the book gives you enough information on each, as a normal political novel would. Though I did look up the real events after finishing the book.

This is a great novel well researched and easy to read, flowing from one event to another one in a smooth process. So if you are into Alternative History, or Political novels or even just into a great story then the latest novel by Alex Rosenberg’s book then you should read, The Intrigues of Jennie Lee: A Novel.

[J.G. Harlond · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 'Intrigues of Jennie Lee' is alternative history novel about a well-known, pioneering British Labour Party MP during the 1920s and early thirties. Jennie Lee, a dynamic, well-educated young Scot, was elected to Parliament before she was of voting age (at that time) and went on to become a significant public figure championing the democratisation of the Arts and improved access to education for the working class. I knew all this before I started this novel so I was looking forward to reading a behind the scenes account of her life by an academic historian.
Author Alex Rosenberg recreates the epoch well, showing the hope Labour Party supporters and MPs had regarding social improvements, and the devastating ripple effects of the of 1929 Wall Street Crash. The ‘intrigues’ aspect of the story revolve around Jennie Lee’s romantic liaisons and political conniving at Westminster. The major intrigue, however, is her connection to the infamous Sir Oswald Mosely, who became the leader of the British Union of Fascists.
The book rests on documented history, but Mr Rosenberg takes the story into the fictional dimension from the opening chapter, where readers witness a dubious and for me highly unlikely scene between Ramsay MacDonald, urbane Leader of the Labour Party, and Jennie’s mother, a miner’s wife, which results in Jennie’s conception. In a subsequent early chapter he presents a friendship between the future Queen of England, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, and our rising eponymous socialist heroine - who is from a mining community. Knowing too much, perhaps, about the period, I found it impossible to suspend disbelief, although I’m willing to accept that strange coincidences and surprising friendships do occur in real life.
Having said that, if you are interested in this critical period in British social history this is a good story. Rosenberg's not-impossible twist - putting Oswald Mosely and his Fascist support centre stage - could have happened. From this point on 'The Intrigues of Jennie Lee' becomes an enjoyable, exciting thriller.
(This was an ARC: there were a number of formatting problems in the Kindle ebook I read, but these were relatively easy to overlook.)

[KOMET · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Intrigues of Jennie Lee is a historical novel loosely based on the experiences of one of the first women members of Parliament in Britain, spanning the years 1929 to 1935.

The novel itself is true to events as they transpired during Lee's first 2 years in Parliament. But then the author bends the historical arc somewhat so that an in-house coup takes place in Parliament in August 1931, which leads to the readmittance into the ruling Labour Party of an ambitious, charismatic politician, who, once selected Party Leader, displaces the previous Labour Prime Minister, and steers Britain toward fascism.

On the whole, I was impressed with the way the author brought to life many of the real historical figures then on the British political scene, as well as Jennie Lee herself, a committed socialist at heart, and someone determined to have a life largely on her own terms. And this at a time when women were expected to lead largely circumscribed lives subordinate to men. The only glaring fault I found in the novel was in the author's identification of MI-6 as a government agency charged with conducting intelligence and surveillance within Britain. He treats MI-6 and SIS (i.e. the Secret Intelligence Service) as two separate and distinct government agencies when they are actually one and the same. Hence, the 4 stars. (It is MI-5 that is responsible for conducting intelligence and surveillance within Britain, much like the FBI here in the U.S. MI-6, on the other hand, is charged with carrying out intelligence and espionage outside of Britain, the British equivalent of the CIA.)

[Kelli]

The Intrigues of Jennie Lee is a sophisticated and captivating blend of history, politics, and personal drama that reimagines one of Britain’s most fascinating real life figures Jennie Lee. Alex Rosenberg brings her to life with depth and defiance, portraying a young woman whose fiery intellect and fearless ambition shattered expectations in a male dominated political landscape.

Set against the turbulent backdrop of interwar Britain, the novel masterfully weaves historical truth with creative intrigue. Real figures like Winston Churchill, Lady Astor, and Aneurin Bevan share the stage with the bold and outspoken Jennie, whose presence electrifies every scene. Through sharp dialogue and layered storytelling, Rosenberg turns political history into a thrilling, character-driven narrative that feels both cinematic and intimate.

What stands out most is the book’s daring, it doesn’t just recount history; it interrogates it. Rosenberg examines power, gender, and moral conviction with nuance, reminding readers that politics is as personal as it is ideological. The infusion of romance, betrayal, and moral struggle keeps the pace brisk without sacrificing emotional depth.

In essence, The Intrigues of Jennie Lee is more than historical fiction, it’s a testament to the power of voice, conviction, and the courage to challenge the system. A compelling read for anyone fascinated by political history, feminist figures, or stories where one woman’s strength alters the course of history.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jennie Lee was a member of the British parliament elected at the age of 24 as a Labour MP, five years too young even to vote for herself.

The novel starts with the real person at its base, "The Intrigues of Jennie Lee" then takes the reader along with Jennie through personal and political crises turning real events and characters into murder mysteries that change the course of European history.

I thoroughly enjoyed the often unexpected plot twists and the reimagining of some of the most well-known moments in British and World history. The novel makes the reader consider "what if" when faced with these possible alternatives. The characters are well developed and believable even when taken out of their familiar place in history.

It's also fascinating how closely aligned many of them and the situations presented are to the modern political era. Certainly for the Labour Party in the UK and the Britsh Parliament generally there are parallels to the increase in female MP's and increasingly younger generations taking their seats.

I'd definitely recommend "The Intrigues of Jennie Lee" as a breath of fresh air in the social and political historical fiction genre.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am uncomfortable with Alex Rosenberg using historical figures and historical facts interspersed with untruths. Usually, in historical fiction, the characters are imaginative, placed in historical events. Although Rosenberg appendices the historical figures along with the dates and times of their political tenure, it's unsettling he changed history in his narrative.
History is subjective as proven by comparing textbooks from two different countries relating the same event. People are influenced by such subjective information presented as fact. Even if there is concrete evidence that an event actually occurred, there exists sceptics that deny the truth, preferring to uphold conspiracy theories. For instance, there are people who claim the Holocaust never happened; or, the USA staged the first moon landing.
If a reader neglects to research the actual events and characters, they may believe Rosenberg's fictional tale as historical truth.

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the general concept, and I’m always on the lookout for stories about women accomplishing great things despite the odds. And Jennie Lee is pretty awesome in getting elected to Parliament before women could vote. But I didn’t find this book that engaging. I don’t know a ton about British politics beyond the basics, particularly in this period, and it didn’t do much to immerse me. It might work better for someone with more experience of the British political system, but it did not work for me,

[A_Place_In The_Orchard · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of those fascinating, but often strangely irritating books in which real life history and out-and-out fiction collide to create a tale that is both larger than life and somehow diminished by it. The tale itself is enjoyable enough, and exciting in places, and if you can resist the temptation to keep running to the reference books just to see if this or that happened, it'll definitely hold your attention. At the same time, though, as you plough through your research, you can't help thinking a novel built around reality would have been even more gripping.

[Denice Langley · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing picture of British political procedures and the people who drove them in the early 1900's. True to life figures have been set in a fictional story that still manages to be a very good story of the time. Jennie Lee became a member of Parliament before she could legally vote. Insuring her voice was heard as a representative of all women, she lived a fascinating life. Many readers will recognize characters in this book as this era in Britain has been well documented. I found the book well written and could easily read another by this author.

[Trick Wiley]

Received this from Net Gallery and thank you so very much for letting me read about a girl who was just a young woman who wanted to change politics in Great Britain and the many other people she met and had a hand in changing politics in England. Jennie takes you on her adventures on who,what,where and why she did what she did for her country! This is truly a very great read if you are interested in how this country was run political and the different parties in England,and what changes occurred with Jennie Lee's present and influence to make it better for her people!

[Tracie Jacquemin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The history and the story were interesting but the author was quite obsessed with sexual activity of the time. I learned about the book from the Duke alumni magazine of books written by professors. I have not researched the individuals in the book to see if their characters live up to how they are portrayed. I read the ebook version and there were quite a few typos which is always disappointing. It’s a quick, fun read.

[Gillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

With real political characters woven into an alternative history, this is an intriguing novel about a well-known, pioneering British Labour Party MP during the inter-war years. Jennie Lee was a Scottish trail blazer in the Labour Party politics with a turbulent personal life and connections to royalty. This is a highly engaging read.

[Mary Fabrizio · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really had to slog through this. The author presupposed his reader knew the inner workings of the British Parliament in the 1920s and 30s. This reader did not.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought The Intrigues of Jennie Lee was a pretty good read. I like it and am giving four and a half stars.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thought-provoking story that had me hooked from the beginning, weaving the politics of a very specific period in history with the personal life a young, strong, charismatic, idealistic female politician. The story explored the nuances of democracy and socialism, as well as gender and family. While the beginning seems to be historically accurate, it does become historical fiction, and I just wished I knew more about where exactly it diverges and what actually happened. That being said I definitely enjoyed and would recommend The Intrigues of Jennie Lee.

[tiasreads]

I read this one to the 20% mark and had to let it go. I got tired of the flow of the story being constantly interrupted to talk about the self-congratulatory sex lives of every single person in the book. (Mind you, it was seldom actual sex scenes, just people discussing their's and other's sex lives.) And I couldn't like Jennie Lee enough to make it worth reading any further.

[Maria Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really intriguing read and a great insight into 1930s politics and the rise of fascism. Oddly mimicking our current political stage. I couldn't stop reading and it stayed with me for a long time. Never having had an interest in political fiction, I would make an exception for this book.