When she was ten, Lydia’s father took her to Prunier, a fine dining restaurant. It inspired Lydia’s love of cuisine and her desire to be a chef. Then again, their father’s artistic talent seems to have passed through to Peggy. Certainly, her determination, her joie de vivre, as Sam explained to Teddy, was exhilarating. However, Teddy? Although her sisters laugh at her love of reading and learning, she’s not sure where she wants to be. We join the Linden sisters as WWII is declared. Thereafter, we chart their experiences, one by one, through their move to Aunt Phoebe’s house in Kent, a return to London, before the doodlebugs’ arrival sees them move to Ambleside. As they grow, we realise their characters:- Lydia- brave, caring, warm and loyal; Peggy- exuberant, creative and courageous, and Teddy- thoughtful, resilient and resourceful. What’s more we grow familiar with their circle, from Mrs Jessop to Arno, Charles L. Wittenstone and Sam, to Runner, and Brian. We see how they slot into the girls’ lives and make a difference, understanding, mentoring and caring for each of them. Then again, wartime Britain, especially London, is so fully realised. It seems that Judith Eagle’s research has us able to smell the snoek, feel the shriek of the air raid, feel the cold of the unheated Camberwell flat. We encounter characters from this time, including John Minton and Marguerite Patten. Then again, we are offered a glimpse of the fears, and restrictions, including beyond wartime, that include fairness and opportunity. What an epic, satisfying, moving and wonderful novel. Judith Eagle’s The Blitz Sisters merits the title ‘classic’. We LOVE this book!
