The story is a wonder of historical research into what it meant to be woman and a man, with all the social expectations and rules, and all of them especially hard on women. And it is monumental, in its tribute to the people of that summer, the summer before the war. Given the present distress of our nation, this book continually brought tears to my eyes, as the dear folks of Sussex lived their daily lives, and then, with the news of fraught days and the outbreak of war, entered the shadows of demons and death.īut also laughter -laughter aloud -the brilliant reply of a woman to a self-centered man, the lament of an exasperated husband unable to corral his wife, the little moments of delight, humor, and laughter that mark our daily routines -all brought to life on the pages of this monumental book. The Summer Before the War, by Helen Simonson.
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