What do you think?
Rate this book
Through Her Opera Glasses
It’s August 1930 and storm clouds are brewing across Europe, heralding
the rise of fascism and the upheavals of the Great Depression. Even so,
these frightening realities can’t stop twenty-four-year-old Betty Harbert
from making the most of her tour of the continent. Sailing from Montreal
with her wealthy Aunt Barbie and cousin Win, Betty attends a Parisian finishing school, tours Europe twice, and spreads joie-de-vivre wherever she
goes. Based on a stack of letters written by the author’s mother during her
year abroad, this novel offers an exciting glimpse of inter-war life in some of
Europe’s great cities, through the eyes of a vibrant young woman who never
failed to appreciate the magnificent world around her. Whether she’s riding
around the English countryside in her date’s Morris Cowley sports car, at
the salon getting a Marcel wave, or touring the Louvre and the Tuileries
Garden, Betty’s great wit and warmth come through in every line of this account of her adventure abroad.
the rise of fascism and the upheavals of the Great Depression. Even so,
these frightening realities can’t stop twenty-four-year-old Betty Harbert
from making the most of her tour of the continent. Sailing from Montreal
with her wealthy Aunt Barbie and cousin Win, Betty attends a Parisian finishing school, tours Europe twice, and spreads joie-de-vivre wherever she
goes. Based on a stack of letters written by the author’s mother during her
year abroad, this novel offers an exciting glimpse of inter-war life in some of
Europe’s great cities, through the eyes of a vibrant young woman who never
failed to appreciate the magnificent world around her. Whether she’s riding
around the English countryside in her date’s Morris Cowley sports car, at
the salon getting a Marcel wave, or touring the Louvre and the Tuileries
Garden, Betty’s great wit and warmth come through in every line of this account of her adventure abroad.
- GenresFiction
255 pages, Paperback
Published December 6, 2021
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 27, 2026
Pat Butler's *Through Her Opera Glasses* is a delightful journey back in time that left me smiling with every turn of the page.
The novel is based on a stack of letters written by the author's mother during her year abroad in 1930, and this personal foundation gives the story a rare authenticity and warmth . Betty Harbert is a wonderfully vibrant protagonist who travels from Montreal to Europe with her wealthy aunt and cousin, attending a Parisian finishing school and touring the continent twice . Even as storm clouds of fascism and the Great Depression gather, Betty's joie de vivre never falters .
What made this book so enjoyable for me was the intimate glimpse into interwar life. Whether Betty is riding through the English countryside in a Morris Cowley sports car, getting a Marcel wave at the salon, or touring the Louvre and Tuileries Garden, her wit and warmth shine through every line . The author, a former high school physics and mathematics teacher who transitioned to writing after retirement, has masterfully crafted an accompanying narrative to her mother's found letters, proving her skill at inventing storylines .
I am so grateful to have discovered this charming book. It is a heartfelt tribute to a remarkable woman and a bygone era, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction and family stories.
The novel is based on a stack of letters written by the author's mother during her year abroad in 1930, and this personal foundation gives the story a rare authenticity and warmth . Betty Harbert is a wonderfully vibrant protagonist who travels from Montreal to Europe with her wealthy aunt and cousin, attending a Parisian finishing school and touring the continent twice . Even as storm clouds of fascism and the Great Depression gather, Betty's joie de vivre never falters .
What made this book so enjoyable for me was the intimate glimpse into interwar life. Whether Betty is riding through the English countryside in a Morris Cowley sports car, getting a Marcel wave at the salon, or touring the Louvre and Tuileries Garden, her wit and warmth shine through every line . The author, a former high school physics and mathematics teacher who transitioned to writing after retirement, has masterfully crafted an accompanying narrative to her mother's found letters, proving her skill at inventing storylines .
I am so grateful to have discovered this charming book. It is a heartfelt tribute to a remarkable woman and a bygone era, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction and family stories.
March 24, 2022
When I started this book it was not a book that I thought I would enjoy. It took me to page maybe 50 to get into it. It was a fun look back at how things used to be and let you live in a world that has long been forgotten. Turned out to be a fun read!
Read
March 1, 2024Did not finish the book. Boring. Could not find any redeeming feature.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews