Filled with stunning parallels to today’s world, The Postmistress is a sweeping novel about the loss of innocence of two extraordinary women-and of two countries torn apart by war.
On the eve of the United States‘s entrance into World War II in 1940, Iris James, the postmistress of Franklin, a small town on Cape Cod, does the unthinkable: She doesn’t deliver a letter. In London, American radio gal Frankie Bard is working with Edward R. Murrow, reporting on the Blitz. One night in a bomb shelter, she meets a doctor from Cape Cod with a letter in his pocket, a letter Frankie vows to deliver when she returns from Germany and France, where she is to record the stories of war refugees desperately trying to escape.
The residents of Franklin think the war can’t touch them- but as Frankie’s radio broadcasts air, some know that the war is indeed coming. And when Frankie arrives at their doorstep, the two stories collide in a way no one could have foreseen. The Postmistress is an unforgettable tale of the secrets we must bear, or bury. It is about what happens to love during wartime, when those we cherish leave. And how every story-of love or war-is about looking left when we should have been looking right.
The Postmistress as it says in the blurb is the story of really 3 women and their stories coming together in a tragic and unforeseen way. Franki Bard, the American who is reporting the news from London, Emma Fitch who is a new wife to the doctor in Franklin and Iris James who is the local Postmaster…or as they say in England, Postmistress.
While The Postmistress is a beautifully told story with incredible imagery, passion in the prose and wonderfully well written, it is definitely not a happy story. It brought to vivid life the horrors of WWII and at points it was difficult to read.
If you are a fan of history than I believe you will very much enjoy this book.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Did you like the book?
I'm fully expecting this to become The Next Big Thing at work. Time will tell if I'm right or not 🙂
Pretty cover. I like historical fiction but not when they are depressing. I think I'll pass on this one for now.
This sounds like I should read it. Thanks Tracy! Starred in my reader.
Chris – I liked the writing of the book but the story itself was extremely sad. I think I'll stick with my HEA's. 🙂
Wendy – You never know. 🙂
Brie – yeah, it's definitely not a happy tale.
Lori – I thought it started off slowly but then I got into it. Enjoy!
Thank you Tracy. Hmmm. I do like WWII books but not sure if I am in the mood for a sad book ATM. Will keep an eye out for it though 🙂
I have this waiting to be picked up at the library. I love reading books set during WWI or WWII.