The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson.

Are you wishing for new episodes of Downton Abbey? If so, be sure to read The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson.  She wrote Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand (a personal favorite) about five years ago.  Similarly, The Summer Before the War is an introspective, relatively gentle read, but it will surprise readers as values and morals of Edwardian era England are cleverly questioned.    

Simonson sets her latest novel in Rye, Sussex during 1914 and battles the constraints of the time regarding gender, same-sex relationships, social class, and foreign refugees through the eyes of characters like:

• Beatrice Nash, young schoolteacher forced to flee a stifling family situation after her professor father’s death;
• Hugh Grange, medical student, hopeful for a Harley Street practice and marriage to his mentor’s daughter;
• Daniel Bookham, Hugh’s cousin, an aspiring poet who adores Craigmore, son of Lord North;
• Celeste, young and beautiful, but troubled, refugee from Belgium;
• Agatha Kent, Beatrice’s patron, local committee woman and planner extraordinaire
• Bettina Fothergill, wife of Rye’s mayor and Agatha’s frequent nemesis

Simonson’s caustic observations, though often subtle, are beautifully written and, again, reminiscent of the droll wit exhibited on Downton Abbey: “cheerful company is as welcome to melancholy as lemon juice on a burn” or “Cook gave Lady Emily’s footman two jars [of preserves] large enough to appear gracious but not so large as to suggest an abundant larder able to supple jars every time someone paid a compliment.”

As war builds, Simonson explores the motivations and methods to recruit soldiers, takes major characters to the front lines and describes the fighting in addition to the stratified treatment of officers and enlisted men.  Overall, The Summer Before the War is an excellently written book, full of social commentary: “’I avoid the papers altogether,’ said Daniel. ‘I am pretty sure wars would be shorter if we weren’t all so eager to read about them.’” Do read The Summer Before the War; it was recommended by Library Reads and received a starred review from Kirkus.

The Forbidden Orchid by Sharon Biggs Waller

The Forbidden Orchid by Sharon Biggs Waller (A Mad Wicked Folly) is a romantic adventure story set in the late 1800’s.  Action takes place in England, on board ship, and in rural China for Elodie Buchanan, a young girl trying to save her family’s fortunes. 

The first half of the book explains how Elodie’s father is a botanist who was captured and tortured in China.  Returning to England and the then relatively new gardens at Kew, he is troubled in both mind and body and remains estranged from Elodie’s mother and many younger sisters (all named for flowers).  Ultimately, the family home is threatened with repossession and he must return to hunting plants in China, with Elodie deciding secretly to accompany him.  To me, this is where the story truly begins with some shipboard passages reminiscent of Avi’s The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. Next, Elodie’s eyes are opened further as their group travels by smaller boat and then by horseback through China in search of a rare orchid. 

Despite the constraints of Victorian England, Elodie is a strong, if naive at times, heroine who grows in understanding and independence through her many adventures. The Forbidden Orchid is longish (almost 400 pages), but readers who persevere will be rewarded with a satisfying ending and can then look forward to a possible sequel with more adventures in China. The Forbidden Orchid received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal. Sharon Biggs Waller completed formidable research and includes an extensive bibliography and author’s notes.