Stevie‘s review of V for Victory by Lissa Evans
Historical Fiction published by Harper 11 May 21
When I read Lissa Evans’ previous book, I noted that I really needed to read an earlier historical novel set later, but featuring some of the same characters. That is yet to happen, but now there’s a new book about them, set slightly later again, and so I had to read it. Sadly, the redoubtable, exasperating, but ultimately lovable Mattie Simpkin is no more; however, much of the story’s action takes place around her former home and the adjoining Hampstead Heath. The main protagonists this time are Mattie’s orphaned ward, Noel, and his adult friend, Vee, who is masquerading as Noel’s aunt. Now living in Mattie’s old house, the pair scrape an existence by taking in lodgers – to the despair of their more respectable neighbours – carefully picked to ensure Noel receives a balanced education and avoids being sent to school, where awkward questions might be asked.
When Noel travels across London in search of a textbook, he encounters one of the girls from the youth group Mattie once ran, now an Air Raid Patrol Warden. The encounter adds to Noel’s curiosity about his parentage, as well as giving him a new academic interest after his new friend shows him a rare carving discovered after the bomb damage sustained by a nearby church. Meanwhile, Vee is witness to – and nearly a victim of – an accident involving a US Army truck, and is forced to face her fears of the police and the court system in order to ensure justice is done.
Following her court appearance, Vee is befriended by one of the Americans involved, leading to some unexpected, mostly food-related, treats for the entire household, while Noel takes advantage of Vee’s distraction by a handsome man to meet up with his newly discovered father, and try to learn something about his mother. Both are ultimately somewhat disappointed to learn that real people don’t always live up to imagined expectations, but their experiences bring them closer to each other, and show them new options for their way ahead.
I enjoyed this book at least as much as the author’s previous novel, and am more determined than ever to track down her previous books once I clear a little of my reading backlog. The characters were engaging, even the less likeable ones, and the accounts of air raids and their after-effects were particularly harrowing.
Grade: A
Summary:
In this witty, charming follow-up to the acclaimed Crooked Heart, the life of lies a small time scammer and her adopted son have constructed in London becomes endangered during the tumultuous final months of World War II.
It’s late 1944. Hitler’s rockets are raining down on London with vicious regularity and it’s the coldest winter in living memory. The Allies are gaining ground, but victory is certainly dragging its feet.
In a large house next to Hampstead Heath, Vee Sedge is barely scraping by with a herd of lodgers to feed and her young charge Noel, almost fifteen now, to clothe and educate. When she witnesses an accident and finds herself in court, the repercussions are both unexpectedly marvelous and potentially disastrous. Because Vee is not actually the person she’s pretending to be, and neither is Noel.
Victory is coming. Yet the end of the war won’t just mean peace, but discovery…
With caustic wit and artful storytelling, Lissa Evans summons a time when the world could finally hope to emerge from the chaos of war. As witty as Old Baggage and poignant as Crooked Heart, V for Victory once again reveals Evans to be one of the most original and entertaining writers at work today.
No excerpt available.
Other books in this series:
