Luckily for Clementine Hozier, who came from modest means but had distinguished herself with her grace and wit, her benefactress was well-connected. At a fortuitous gathering of important guests, Clementine was seated next to the quirky but brilliant bachelor, Winston Churchill. And while Clementine had been engaged before, she never met anyone quite like this man; primarily because rather than being threatened by her intelligence and drive, he was enamored of both. She immediately became his confidant as well as his advisor, and of course, his wife. As she observed many of her peers being shunted into more traditional roles, she was always by his side, guiding him, calming him, and paving the way for him to succeed, even when he didn’t realize she was doing so.
This well-researched novel by Marie Benedict demonstrates how important women were during both world wars. While most history books highlight the men who brokered the strategies and ultimately the treaties, few reveal the role of the women working either alongside them or keeping the countries afloat when the men left for battle. Not only did Clementine Churchill ease the way for Winston to do what he did best, calming those who reacted to his brusque manner, but she also created opportunities for women to support the war efforts, both on the front and behind the scenes. She worked to pave the way for women to expand their possibilities.
We also see what foresight Churchill had about the threat of war and the dangers of certain allies. When no one was paying attention, he noticed the illegal build-up of the German army by Hitler and his Brownshirts. When no one was wary of Russia’s motives in forming an alliance with the US, he maintained his suspicions of their ultimate goal of taking over more territories. He was prescient and wise even when no one was listening.
There is a lot to learn from this novel. There were moments when it became a bit bogged down in the details, a bit repetitive. It was not Benedict’s most suspenseful novel. But it was definitely educational and I am happy I read it.
kindread spirits 