On May 8, 1945, the Allies celebrated Victory in Europe (VE Day), following Germany's surrender and the end of World War II in Europe. There were street celebrations across Europe and North America, most memorably in Trafalgar Square. Jack grew up in New Orleans and volunteered for the Navy; on VE Day he is celebrating with several friends from the British Navy (not sure how they would have known each other) when they run into several young women, including Olive; her friend, Rosie and a young woman named Andrea they encounter in the dark. Jack is attracted to the outgoing Olive but it is Andrea he marries.
Now it is 1952 and Jack has been offered a temporary position as a cook in the royal kitchens at Sandringham estate in Norfolk. Just as he and Andrea are celebrating his new position, she dies in a fatal accident in the fog. Devastated, Jack has to be persuaded by his friends to join the kitchen staff at Sandringham but, once there, the familiar routine of cooking and the opportunity to share some family recipes helps him begin to recover and regain his ambition. And he encounters old friend Olive, who has secured an assignment from the BBC to cover the Queen’s first Christmas radio broadcast of her reign. Since they last met, Olive has raised a child and fought for career opportunities in a male-dominated field. At Sandringham, she meets the Queen, which allows Olive to help shape the radio broadcast and gives her material for her coverage every year. Jack has some informal conversations with Prince Philip, as navy men who miss the sea. But most importantly, Jack and Olive slowly rebuild their relationship over five years and he realizes he can love someone again – at least, until Olive is forced to share a secret about her past.
This is meant to be a heartwarming holiday novel and is mostly successful. Where this book works is in the descriptions of Olive’s work at the BBC and Jack’s experience as a chef, as well as their developing friendship. The portrayals of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip are less convincing because we know they were very private and would almost certainly not have shared their feelings with staff or journalists. Using actual historical figures can be problematic if the authors do not try to make the characters act authentically. While the plot depends on Olive’s annual interview with the Queen and Jack’s occasional interaction with Prince Philip, some of the dialogue made me cringe. Prince Philip would never have discussed his wife or referred to her as Lilibet to a lowly member of staff and the housekeeper would never have parked Olive in the library where she might run into the Queen or tell a strange journalist that the Queen was worried about her speech. If you need to create such situations as an author, you should figure out a way to make them more convincing. Additional research or efforts to improve the authenticity would have improved the story – which was a great concept – without impeding the plot. I was also offended by the sloppy grammar, especially when it came out of Queen Elizabeth’s mouth. Don’t William Morrow or Harper UK have copy editors?
This is my twenty-first book for the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge. I had read about it last year when there was a long reserve list so I decided to save it for this month. Despite the concerns above, I did enjoy the book, which is Gaynor and Webb’s fourth collaboration, despite my belief it could have been better executed. However, those who rely on People Magazine for their knowledge of the Royals would probably not be bothered by my quibbles.
Title: Christmas with the Queen
Author: Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb
Publication: William Morrow, hardcover, 2024
Genre: Historical Fiction
Source: Library
Now it is 1952 and Jack has been offered a temporary position as a cook in the royal kitchens at Sandringham estate in Norfolk. Just as he and Andrea are celebrating his new position, she dies in a fatal accident in the fog. Devastated, Jack has to be persuaded by his friends to join the kitchen staff at Sandringham but, once there, the familiar routine of cooking and the opportunity to share some family recipes helps him begin to recover and regain his ambition. And he encounters old friend Olive, who has secured an assignment from the BBC to cover the Queen’s first Christmas radio broadcast of her reign. Since they last met, Olive has raised a child and fought for career opportunities in a male-dominated field. At Sandringham, she meets the Queen, which allows Olive to help shape the radio broadcast and gives her material for her coverage every year. Jack has some informal conversations with Prince Philip, as navy men who miss the sea. But most importantly, Jack and Olive slowly rebuild their relationship over five years and he realizes he can love someone again – at least, until Olive is forced to share a secret about her past.
 |
| Her first Christmas broadcast Royal Collection Trust https://tinyurl.com/yc69cef9 |
This is my twenty-first book for the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge. I had read about it last year when there was a long reserve list so I decided to save it for this month. Despite the concerns above, I did enjoy the book, which is Gaynor and Webb’s fourth collaboration, despite my belief it could have been better executed. However, those who rely on People Magazine for their knowledge of the Royals would probably not be bothered by my quibbles.
Author: Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb
Publication: William Morrow, hardcover, 2024
Genre: Historical Fiction
Source: Library
No comments:
Post a Comment