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Julia Justiss | Dance Before the Deluge

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For the “scary” month of October, we look at several novels set in the growing-anxiety era of the 1930’s, where even the members of the upper class British society portrayed in these stories sense that a fractured world and a fragile peace are threatened—and worry how that will affect the rest of their lives.

We begin with fictionalized accounts of real people in Emily Hourican’s AN INVITATION TO THE KENNEDYS.  The story is told in alternating viewpoints between Kathleen 'Kick' Kennedy, daughter of the new US ambassador to England, and Honor and Lady Brigid Guinness, scions of a socially prominent family.  “Kick” is delighted to be in England; with the older brothers on whom Joseph Kennedy normally focuses back in the US, she dreams of winning her exacting father’s attention and approval. Her social success pleases him, marked by her invitation to a select house party at Kelveden Hall, where she becomes friends with Lady Brigid, the niece of their host “Chips” Channon and his wife, Brigid’s sister Honor. Chip has great plans of matching his niece with fellow guest Prince Frederick of Prussia, heir to the German emperor, whom he thinks might make a bargain with Hitler to share power in Germany, thereby increasing Chip’s own power and influence.  Also at the party is Billy Cavendish, heir to the Duke of Devonshire, with whom Kick is falling in love—despite the disapproval of her fiercely American father.  Brigid has been resisting the path followed by her sisters of making a proper Society marriage—until she meets Prince Fritzi.  As they mingle with the cream of Society, including some of the scandalous Mitford girls, discovering secrets and scandals beneath the perfect veneer, both must examine what they truly want—and whether, in a world on the brink of war, achieving it is even possible.

We move on to a story about the Mitfords themselves in THE MITFORD AFFAIR by Marie Benedict, which is told from the perspective of three of the six beautiful, brilliant and influential sisters.  Like many English aristocrats of the 1930’s, the Mitford family, who possess whose German ties, are Nazi sympathizers.  But the preference turns more dangerous when Diana divorces her wealthy, indulgent husband to marry Sir Oswald Mosley, leader of the British Fascists, and ingratiates herself into Hitler’s inner circle to seek more support for her husband’s quest for political power in England.  Inclination leads to obsession when her sister Unity, who’s been fascinated by Hitler since her teens, follows Diana to Berlin, spiking rumors that she will become Hitler’s mistress.  Observing these disturbing developments with increasing concern is their sister, novelist Nancy Mitford.  When she discovers that Hitler has set up a secret communications channel with Diana, worried for the political fate of England, Nancy struggles between family loyalty and the need to do something.  Eventually, she decides to observe and secretly report to her cousin Winston Churchill all she can glean from the unwise and possibly treasonous interactions of her sisters.  Set against the darkening background of a world headed to war, Benedict’s meticulously researched account plunges the reader into the tumult of those dangerous days, when the eventual triumph of democracy over fascism was in serious doubt.

Our next novel, BETSY AND LILIBET by Sophie Duffy, is a saga told by a fictional character born on the same day on the other side of the Thames from Queen Elizabeth II and named Elizabeth in her honor.  Though on opposite poles by class and wealth, the two also share unexpected similarities.  Betsy Sunshine grows up heir to a dynasty family business, as does young Lilibet.  Both have attention-seeking, often irresponsible younger sisters. Both accept their position in life, applying a strong work ethic to supporting their family and their nation through long years of service.  Although the story is narrated by now-ninety-year-old Betsy, each chapter begins with a quote from the queen that knits together the story of their parallel lives, each lived with determination and filled with love, heartache, devotion and grit. Duffy delights the reader with a charming and insightful look at the social and political changes in England during the lifetime of our protagonists viewed from the lens of their very different yet somehow quite similar lives.

We end with THE LAST DANCE by Fiona McIntosh, a story that takes place in the same world, though the characters here are entirely fictional.  With the death of her parents, well-educated but suddenly impoverished Stella Myles struggles to support her younger brothers by working as a dance partner in a Piccadilly ballroom.  There she meets the mysterious Montgomery, who offers to recommend her for a six-month school holiday job as piano and French teacher to the wealthy Ainsworth family at their grand Sussex estate.  Grateful for the opportunity, she finds herself entering a household full of silent strain, welcomed by patriarch Douglas Ainsworth but resented by his wife and daughters and resisted by the staff.  Gradually Stella uncovers the secrets underlying the fraught relationships—and finds herself falling in love with Douglas.  After Douglas takes the family on a cruise to Morocco, danger threatens more than just family ties when Stella is charged with carrying a stolen document back to Britain, something that may affect Britain’s entry into war.  McIntosh’s novel includes all the elements to engage the reader: a struggling but determined heroine, forbidden love, dangerous intrigue and enticing views of the bazaars and alleyways of Morocco.

1930’s England was a time of glamor and gaiety for the wealthy, hard work and family life for the less privileged—and a growing threat to them and their traditional lives as the thunderclouds of war gathered.  Immerse yourself in that world and enjoy!

About Julia Justiss

Julia Justiss

Real, intense, passionate historical romance

Award-winning romance author Julia Justiss, who has written more than thirty historical novels and novellas set in the English Regency and the American West, just completed her first contemporary series set in the fictional Hill Country town of Whiskey River, Texas.

A voracious reader who began jotting down plot ideas for Nancy Drew novels in her third grade spiral, Julia has published poetry and worked as a business journalist.

She and her husband live in East Texas, where she continues to craft the stories she loves. Check her website for details about her books, chat with her on social media, and follow her on Bookbub and Amazon to receive notices about her latest releases.

Regency Silk & Scandal | Hadley’s Hellions | Ransleigh Rogues | Whiskey River Christmas | Sisters of Scandal | Wellingfords | Cinderella Spinsters | Heirs in Waiting | The McAllister Brothers | Least Likely to Wed

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