Delightful, bittersweet tale of suffragettes in 1928 looking for an outlet for their enthusiasm now that the fight for the vote has been won. Matilda loved her years fighting for the vote and travels the country giving lectures about the battles they fought, the forced feeding in prison and the characters she knew. Shortly after being mugged and almost arrested again as the empty bottle she launches at her assailant hits the wrong target, Matilda meets up with an acquaintance from the glory years who’s now letting the side down by running a fascist group for young people. Determined to do the right thing, she sets up a rival group to mould young women in her own image as they learn self-defence suffragette style. Unfortunately Matilda can’t always see what’s right in front of her and she focuses her attention in the wrong direction. This is the first adult novel by Lissa Evans that I’ve read and it’s not quite as good as her children’s stories but it’s still a really enjoyable read with good characterisation.

A really interesting read, some great characters and an interesting subject, kept me involved until the end

I really enjoyed the history and social aspect of this story. The author had obviously done lots of research and it was beautifully presented. The characters were very interesting too. I was, however, a bit surprised by the abrupt ending.

I was slightly bored by this and almost gave up half way through. Not knowing the author, I thought it was going to be an aimless, lightweight, dated comedy, resembling Mapp and Lucia. However, it picked up and I read until the end with renewed interest. The setting in time and place was spot on. It was charming and poignant and turned out to be a jolly good story!

I really enjoyed this novel which is rich in characters, humour and history. I also learned new stuff which is always a bonus.

Mattie Simpkin was part of the suffragette movement and when we first meet her it is 1928 and she is looking for another outlet for her energy. Along with her friend The Flea she establishes The Amazons a club for girls where they learn field crafts, debating and how to challenge society.

Mattie is a very entertaining character, she is witty, clever and rather unaware of the consequences of some of her actions. She is ably supported by The Flea who tries her best to keep Mattie out of trouble. Other ‘retired’ suffragettes add to the excellent flavour of the story along with the girls who comprise The Amazons. There are some truly laugh out loud moments in this loveable tale, especially those which involve Ada, a young girl who works for Mattie and her attempts to corral the twins, Avril and Winnie.

Over and above the humour there is an important message about the role of class and its implications for women in society. We also see the beginning of the rise of fascism in post-war Britain through the suffragette ‘gone bad’ Jacko, her husband and the Empire Youth League.

I would highly recommend this novel for its heart-warming characters, sense of sisterhood and an important message.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley and publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.

I was thrilled to learn that there was a new book by Lissa Evans and to be able to read it early, thanks to NetGalley. Old Baggage is about Mattie, a former suffragette. She’s a wonderful character: fiercely intelligent, witty, overbearing. She lives in Hampstead with her friend The Flea, who looks after her because domesticity is not Mattie’s thing. As far as she is concerned, the struggle for women’s rights is far from over but does she dwell too much on the past? The happy days of the sisterhood, even the suffering in prison? She needs a new outlet for her formidable energy and starts a group for young girls, to be called the Amazons. They will learn self-defence, self-reliance, healthy outdoor living and expand their horizons in accordance with Mattie’s ideas. The Amazons are to be the opposite of any youth organisation which seems regimented or militaristic; Mattie’s generation is the one which lost its brothers and sweethearts in the First World War.

A first there are few responses to her advertisement but the Amazons attract more and more girls, who are soon having the time of their lives on Hampstead Heath. The most interesting of them is Ida, a bright girl from a working class home where no one has any aspirations and she is constantly disparaged. Working as a housemaid for Mattie, she is exposed to new ways of thinking and begins to dream of improving herself. She’s also a great success in the Amazons, a born leader. All seems going well when a new character is introduced, a girl who causes Mattie to lose all sense of proportion, for reasons which I can’t give for fear of spoilers. The Flea sees things straight, speaks her mind and the two old friends become estranged. Mattie has committed a double betrayal and has to come to terms with it.

The end of the book connects it with the wonderful Crooked Heart, which I praised so highly. I absolutely loved Old Baggage from the first page (but not as much as I loved Crooked Heart). Now that we have some of Mattie’s back story, it would be wonderful to find out what happened to Noel of the earlier book.

Old Baggage (nice punning title), will be out on 14th June.

Stop and think about this title of the latest book from Lissa Evans.

Old Baggage, can mean different things to different people. It can be used as a description of some older lady, past her prime and of no use to anyone or society. It can be the baggage we bring from the past into the present. It can be actual tangible items, it can be thoughts, emotions and feelings. It can simply be an old bag with treasures inside that has sat unopened for a long time.

But what if it is all those things as Lissa Evans cleverly weaves her tale.

Matilda Simpkin, Mattie to her friends is all the things I have described and more. She is a lady of a certain age, who having been a militant activist within the Suffragette movement has now reached a stage in life where she finds she is of no use, she has no purpose. She is simply seen by others as Old Baggage.

But upon discovering a wooden club in an old bag, she wonders perhaps if there is still not more to do and can you still be idealistic and principled ten years after the main event.

However, times have changed and they are moving in a different direction and when Mattie encounters someone from her past what she believes in suddenly becomes lost in some other campaign.

I was drawn to all the characters, even though Mattie dominates the pages. Those she interacts with like The Flea (read the book to find out why she is called that) and young Ida who they both take under their wing. Mattie sees Ida as the future but, Ida sees a very different future and Mattie needs to change that, she did not fight for no reason.

This is a enthralling read, which did make me stop and think what became of the suffragettes and this is an ideal book to celebrate the centenary of those who fought so I can have a vote.  I enjoyed all the historical aspects of it and how I was taken back to the cells of Holloway and reminded that it was another ten years before all women had the vote.

This book is funny and moving and quietly powerful. The way the book is structured is perhaps  different from the norm (no defined chapters) but somehow this all adds to the story, as an old bag is found, old stories come tumbling out and they might well be able to define the future of women all over the world.