THE GLOVEMAKER'S WAR

In this novel, a directionless woman finds a relative and an identity in her grandmother’s World War II story.

Georgina Smytheson is living a glamorous life in Manhattan in 2016 when her mother asks her to visit her grandmother Eve in England. Georgina decides to leave immediately. Shortly after she arrives, her grandmother remarks that Georgina has her grandfather’s eyes, which inspires Eve to tell a story. In 1943, Eve’s family owned a glove shop in Worcester. Eve intended to train as a nurse, but because she was fluent in French, she was recruited by the Royal Air Force for a special mission as an undercover agent in France. She used her skills as a glovemaker to send packages with messages to London during the war. In 2016, Georgina unearths such a package, which contains a single pink glove that triggers important memories about Eve’s wartime experiences. As Eve’s recollections unfold, she tells Georgina about Luc Gaspard, a young man she met while working undercover in France (“His deep blue eyes reminded her of the sea on a summer’s day”). Eve and Luc had an affair, and he is Georgina’s grandfather. Although Eve believes he died in the war, she isn’t certain, and Georgina attempts to track him down. She ultimately discovers more than she ever thought possible. Williams’ engaging story bounces back and forth between past and present, showing Eve’s life during the war and in 2016, when she tells Georgina secrets she’s never revealed to anyone. For Georgina, the disclosures lead to new clues about her own past and identity. Eve’s tale explains why Georgina’s mother, Angela, is so difficult. The war story turns out to be a lot more intriguing than the contemporary tale; Georgina has led a charmed life, and readers will find it a bit difficult to sympathize with her. In contrast, Eve’s story is sad, full of danger, and speaks to the horrors of war even for those not fighting on the front. The novel’s ending is a little convenient but very poignant. Still, the book almost feels truncated; readers may find themselves wanting more drama at the end.

A sweet tale of love in wartime.