The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club
by Helen Simonson
You must sign in to see if this title is available for request. Sign In or Register Now
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app
1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date 18 Jul 2024 | Archive Date 18 Jul 2024
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) | Bloomsbury Publishing
Talking about this book? Use #HazelbourneLadies #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!
Description
A young woman's life is forever changed in the summer after World War I when she befriends a group of independent, motorcycle-riding women in a seaside town on the English coast
It is the summer of 1919 and Constance Haverhill is without prospects. Now that all the men have returned from the front, she has been asked to give up her cottage and her job at the estate she helped to run during the war. While she looks for a position as a bookkeeper or (horror) a governess, she's sent as a lady's companion to an old family friend who is convalescing at a seaside hotel. Despite having only weeks to find a permanent home, Constance is swept up in the social whirl of Hazelbourne-on-Sea and its colorful inhabitants, most notably, Poppy Wirrall.
Poppy, the daughter of a land-owning baronet, wears trousers, operates a taxi and delivery service to employ local women and runs a ladies' motorcycle club (to which she plans to add flying lessons). She and her friends enthusiastically welcome Constance into their circle. And then there is Harris, Poppy's recalcitrant but handsome brother — a fighter pilot recently wounded in battle — who warms in Constance’s presence. But things are more complicated than they seem in this sunny pocket of English high society. As the country prepares to celebrate its hard-won peace, Constance and the women of the club are forced to confront the fact that the freedoms they gained during the war are being revoked.
With sharp humor, biting wit and a warm heart, Simonson captures the mood of a generation facing the seismic changes brought on by war. The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club is a timeless comedy of manners, refreshing as a summer breeze and bracing as the British seaside.
Advance Praise
'Written with great humour and compassion, it is an absolute delight' - PIP WILLIAMS
'An absolute joy of a book ... Historical fiction of the highest order' - ANN NAPOLITANO
'Beautifully written and brimming with charm' - CHRISTINA BAKER KLINE
'Utterly captivating ... A perfect blend of historical charm, courage, and camaraderie' - JAMIE FORD
Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9781526670236 |
| PRICE | £16.99 (GBP) |
| PAGES | 432 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Anita W, Reviewer
What a delight! I had no idea what to expect from this title but I was engaged from start to finish and feel that Helen Simonsen has captured the essence of the era and people really well.
Set at the end of the First World War, the book, in addition to being a charming adventure, explores a number of themes including class, sexism, disability and female empowerment. It was a time of significant social change and this is very successfully highlighted by Poppy and Carol, two central characters from different backgrounds. I loved the way boundaries were stretched and broken…women wearing trouser, flying, motorcycling. How audacious! But the world didn’t implode and the social attitudes of the time are well depicted, I was reminded at times of E F Benson’s exploration of class in the Mapp and Lucia chronicles. The Hazelbourne ladies have similar charm, humour and prescience and I really enjoyed this title.
Sarah H, Educator
I have never come across Helen Simonson’s works before. After I finished The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club, I saw that her debut novel, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand was published in twenty one countries… so I can’t understand how I’ve never read her until now! The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club is set in the summer after World War I and follows the story of Constance, initially portrayed as a young woman without prospects, who befriends Poppy, who runs a ladies' motorcycle club.
The novel explores the challenges faced by women in the post-war era, including issues of class, sex and race and addresses the ambitions, frustrations, and tragedies of both the women and the men emerging from the Great War.
It’s an absolute must for lovers of historical fiction especially if you enjoy reading about resilient and independent women - because Constance and Poppy are the epitome of female empowerment.
Suzi M, Reviewer
This book was brilliant!
Totally recommend it.
Following WW1 all the women who had stepped into male roles during the war were expected to return to their drawing rooms and find a husband.
We meet a rag tag group of women who aren’t prepared to do that.
Constance is experiencing a change of circumstances and must become independent. As she tries to find a place for herself in the world of work, she befriends Poppy and her team of motorcycle delivery drivers.
On one level a fun romp of a book, but covering many issues of the age.
Well worth a read!
Thank you to NetGalley and author and publisher for a copy to review.
Readers who liked this book also liked:
