This was an interesting biography of two women and their lives and relationship in the Edwardian era, WWI and its aftermath.

I found this book to be well-researched and easy to read with a thorough exploration of both Jack and Eve's lives and the era they lived in.

During the WW1 sections it did occasionally read more like a general biography of the Scottish Women's Hospital and its members, which whilst fascinating, did leave Jack and Eve feeling like an after-thought in their own book. I appreciate this was done to give context for what their experiences were and the world and people around them, but I do not think the balance was quite right.

Overall though, this was still an engaging and informative read and I would recommend for anyone with an interest in learning more about the experiences of women in WW1 or queer women's lives in the early 20th century.

How had I never heard of these two incredible, pioneering women before now? Wendy Moore has written an enthralling biography of Vera Holme (Jack) and Evelina Haverfield (Eve). Jack was a young actress, who went on to become Emmeline Pankhurst's chauffeur and mechanic. Eve was the beautiful, privileged daughter of a Scottish baron. The two met in 1908, fell in love, and became public faces of the suffragette movement. Moore takes us through their lives together, from the early years, and their brave exploits for the suffrage cause, through to their harrowing work in Serbia for the Scottish Women's Hospital Service, and in into their later years. All through this, their love for each other shines from the page, an inspiring example of two women living their lives exactly as they wanted to, ignoring what society deemed 'acceptable'. Brilliant stuff.

The exciting and well researched biography of two women who thought out the box, demonstrated they could do anything a man can do, and were not shy about their sexual orientation.
It was an intriguing and informative read, a good piece of women history.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This is the story of two women who met and became lovers and partners despite vastly different backgrounds and life experiences. It wasn’t always the easiest of relationships, as time passed Jack’s flirtations and affairs with other women – including Scottish painter Dorothy Johnstone aka Dodo – became almost routine but it lasted until Eve's premature death. Evelina Haverfield aka Eve was born in Scotland in the 1870s, she had an aristocratic background but was brought up in relatively spartan surroundings. At first, she followed a conventional path, she married an older army officer and had two children. But after she was unexpectedly widowed, adventurous Eve took time out to travel in Mexico and the US. She later remarried but it never really took. Vera Holme aka Jack was born towards the end of the nineteenth century to a middle-class family in Lancashire. Her father died when she was a child, her mother remarried and Vera was sent away to school. When she returned, she struck out on her own to make a living on the stage, inspired by popular music-hall artists like Vesta Tilley one of the many women making a living through so-called ‘male impersonation’ acts. Eve and Vera, now known as Jack, might never have met if it hadn’t been for the rise of the suffragette movement, a chance encounter at a ‘votes for women’ meeting brought them together. They were soon inseparable and quickly moved in together.

Moore’s account of Jack and Eve's lives combines history with biography. Together they took on volunteer roles during WW1, eventually arriving in Serbia where Jack drove ambulances and Eve worked as a field hospital administrator. It was a gruelling experience, they worked to treat a flood of wounded, dealt with a devastating typhus outbreak and later spent time as prisoners of war. Jack and Eve formed a long-term attachment to Serbia and to Serbian society, raised funds for the relief of Serbian prisoners and returned after the war to provide support for the many orphans of war – two of the many British women who, appropriately or not, dedicated their lives to ‘good’ causes during that era. Moore’s primary focus is on constructing an accessible portrait of the couple and their relationship. But during the episodes featuring their war years, Moore’s emphasis is more on the general situation of women travelling to war zones to tend the wounded – there are times when Jack and Eve are very much in the background.

Jack and Eve’s experiences were often fascinating and Moore’s research is impressive. But the detail here could be a little overwhelming and/or dry – although likely to appeal to anyone with a general interest in women’s activities during wartime. I was fascinated to find out about Jack and Eve but there were times when this felt a little too distanced, particularly when it came to queer and lesbian identity and culture. There are brief mentions of the codes that women used to recognise each other, as well as Jack and Eve’s links to broader lesbian circles. But I would have loved a more considered discussion of issues around gender, for example, particularly when it came to choices around naming and self-presentation – some of the women mentioned here would now most likely identify as trans or non-binary, others specifically adopted stereotypically male titles or clothing to signal their identity as lesbians. Yet others like the so-called “masqueraders” - who aren’t really considered here - were working-class women who adopted ‘male’ personas so they could find work as carpenters or builders, be or do things otherwise effectively barred to them as women. Jack and Eve's wartime work took place in field hospitals run exclusively by women an offshoot of an unusual Scottish-led organisation, these were a fertile space for lesbians providing a kind of freedom that clearly allowed many women to flourish in ways not possible in the civilian world. But again I’d have liked more about how this culture worked in practice, less about what happened and more about why it was possible and what it meant for the women involved.

Rating: 3.5

Vera (Jack) and Evelina (Eve) were born ahead of their time. They believed in the rights and equality of women and as followers of Emmeline Pankhurst were determined to action their beliefs. At the start of World War 1 the two lovers travelled to Serbia to work in the Scottish Women's Hospital. Despite the dangers and challenges they faced both because of their beliefs and their sexuality, they were not to be cowed.
This is a true story of bravery and love; a story of two lesser known women, that needed to be told. I found myself drawn into their story and found myself cheering them on, knowing that I couldn't have achieved half of what they did. I also found it informative to find out more about WW1 from a very different perspective. This is a book that deserves to do well.

What a fascinating book! I had never heard of these women before but reading this led me to research them a bit more. I loved reading about their early lives and the whole suffragette movement. There was a lot of detail about the War which I didn't find quite as interesting but on the whole I really enjoyed reading about how these two charismatic women lived their lives.

Having read several of Wendy Moore's unfailingly interesting books about less well known historical figures, especially "Knife Man "and "Wedlock "I knew I would be in safe hands with Moore's ability to bring the past to life. In this immacutely researched book, Moore recounts the life history of "Jack", Vera Holme and "Eve", Evelina Haverfield, uncovering the tireless and dangerous work women volunteers carried out in Hospitals in Serbia and Russia during the Great War, shedding new light on less well known pioneers in the suffragette movement and revealing lesbian societies living and working together openly whilst also "hiding in plain sight".

Jack/Vera is from an upper middle class background and inspired by Ellen Terry becomes an actress, often taking on male roles. An accomplished horsewoman she also learns to drive a car and becomes Emmeline Pankhurst's official chaffeur. Jack meets Eve, an upper class woman through the Suffragette movement. Eve is a widow with two children who has travelled widely and enjoys shooting and hunting and gets a thrill from finding herself in dangerous situations. They start living together in 1911, even though Eve has remarried, to one of her dead husband's friends. They join the Scottish Womens Hospital (SWH) movement during the Great War caring for solsiers, eventually with other women setting up and running a large field hospital in Serbia, coping with a major Typhus outbreak. Jack has a roving eye but they remain bonded to one another, staying behind when the Central Powers invade and they become captive.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley with thanks.

This was a very interesting and insightful glimpse into the world of Jack and Eve, two very brave women who endured the horrors of WWI while embarking on a wholesome love affair. This was definitely worth a read, both from an LGBTQ+ point of view and from a historical nerd point of view (of which I am both!)

Wendy Moore's "Jack and Eve" unfolds an extraordinary love story, portraying two fearless and politically progressive women. Moore skillfully reveals their untold role in WWI, showcasing courage and resilience. This captivating biography sheds light on a hidden lesbian culture, making it a compelling exploration of history's overlooked narratives.

Thanks to @netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.