Why a Booktrail?
1919: A woman becomes nurse main to a family in Devon
Jessie’s Promise (Woman of War 1)
What you need to know before your trail
When Jessie Hale loses her nursing job at the end of the First World War, she leaves London to become the nurse maid to the Kendle family in Devon.
On arrival she finds the family in disarray. Captain Kendle is a loving father but is traumatised by the war and kept at arm’s length by his frosty wife. When their elderly Nanny suffers a bad fall, Jessie has to try to bring the household together. Gradually Jessie finds her place in their lives, becoming devoted to Captain Kendle’s lively son Jack, his lovely, but quiet daughter Catherine, as well his invalid Mother.
Jessie soon starts to love her life at Kendlebury Hall, but problems arise when her feelings for her employer start to change…
Travel Guide
Travel BookTrail Style to Kendelbury
The setting of Kendelbury and the village of the same name is fictional but somewhere near Torquay in Devon. The characters often take the train from London here and pass through Torquay on their journeys around the country.
Kendelbury House sounds very grand and a far cry from the hustle and bustle of the city.
London
The setting of London becomes important for the war effort going on whilst the women of the story are trying to survive each day. Characters travel up to the city and in the case of book 2, spend a great time there in the pubs and clubs of the decade. Book Two showcases London as being a city celebrating the end of war. There is music everywhere and too much of everything. After a period of war and a shortage of most things, this is quite the culture shock. In Hetty’s war, the city is once again at war and under the cover of darkness.
Paris
Mentioned as a background. The setting of France in general is important given the fight for the resistance which took place across the water from London. The war efforts are centered here and it’s where Hetty is sent to Chateau de Faubourg where she joins the resistance (Book three) . Then she meets the charismatic resistance leader Stefan Lefarge…
BookTrail Boarding Pass: Jessie’s Promise (Women in War 1)
Destination: Devon Author/guide: Rosie Clarke Departure Time: 1919
Back to ResultsWhere Next?
