Very enjoyable book set just post WWII to present day. It moved me on several occasions. Very good first novel ( )

An interesting account of one woman's life following her arrival in Britain following the second World War. Her career path and first one, then a second close friendship sustained her through many years as she tried to influence change in the lives of her pupils and the political landscape of the times. This is a well written story with lovely references to the era. If you enjoy the social history interspersed with love, loss,strong friendships and politics, this will be an enjoyable read. ( )

Was a little apprehensive about this read which is why it has been sat on my shelf for a while. Purchased this after seeing Sheila at a book festival and hoped that it would not be too 'preachy' - I needn't have worried. I grew to love the main character Marguerite despite her sometimes annoying saviour complex and do gooder attitude. This book took you through the ages of the 40s through to the 90s and touches upon some pivotal events in those times involving the main characters - this includes both the highs and the lows - I liked how Sheila wasn't afraid to show the prejudices that a lot of society had at that time (and now unfortunately). I think my favourite character was most definitely Tony who brings freshness and humour - without him I believe I wouldn't have gotten past the first few chapters. ( )

A potted history of post-war Britain in fictional form, actress Sheila Hancock's novel about crusading schoolteacher Marguerite Carter is a good read, but could have been so much better. From the blurb, I was expecting more about Marguerite's wartime service in France as an agent for the SOE, which actually comes towards the end of the book, rather than a hop, skip and jump through the decades, from the late 40s to early 2000s. Marguerite moves to London to teach, first at a grammar school and then one of those new-fangled comprehensives, forming a lifelong friendship with a gay colleague and inspiring countless children with a love of poetry. I could cheerfully have smacked her. Thanks to Sheila Hancock's copious historical reminiscences/research, Marguerite never develops from a literary device into a fully fledged character; instead, she remains an idealistic mash-up of Mr Chips and Mary Poppins. Marguerite marches on Aldermaston, gets her hair styled by Vidal Sassoon, votes for Margaret Thatcher, loses a friend to AIDs, gets older, and eventually comes full circle. Lots of doom, gloom and social commentary, but more history than story. ( )

Just didn't keep my attention. ( )