The only thing I will say for it is that it’s inspired me to read some non-fiction about female SOE agents working in France.Įven though I greatly enjoyed the majority of this ‘British lass battles the Nazis in France’ novel, I have to say that – after turning the final page – I’m somewhat disappointed. A poor show from Faulkes whose Birdsong I really enjoyed. No surprise the film tightened up the plot even though the film isn’t a patch on the older SOE films like Carve her name with Pride and Odette. This part of the novel is more aligned to non-fiction.Īdd to that incongruous lengthy meditations on Proust and art and Freud and what you have is an ill-disciplined meandering novel that lacks focus and a sense of reality. His attempt at covering so much ground left me feeling all the various aspects of this book were thin and without emotional power. The focus suddenly shifts from Charlotte’s love life and her (non-existent) SOE responsibilities to the plight of the Jews. Characters become talking heads and are often there merely to provide a commentary on the wider picture of what’s going on in France. Secondly there’s way too much research in this novel. This part of the novel is pure chick lit. They weren’t swanning around in France looking for love. These agents all belonged to a circuit and were highly disciplined. In other words you could say it’s hugely disrespectful to the enormous bravery and dedication of the real female SOE agents who certainly didn’t go to France for amorous reasons. She contributes nothing to the war effort.

In France she gets amorously involved with another man. If you strip this novel down to its central storyline it’s about a young woman who goes to France primarily to find her airman boyfriend who’s missing in action.

Charlotte gray novel