Enthralling!

The Secret War of Julia Child by Diana R. Chambers   

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

So Julia Child is one of my fav people. Ever since I saw the film of her cooking omelettes for 100 plus people on a couple of spirit stoves at the Smithsonian Institute in D.C. I’ve been intrigued.

Intrigued by her ‘can do’ attitude, her indomitable spirit, her zest for life.

That has been fuelled further by various movies and TV series that have added to her legend over the years.

Of her previous life with the Office of Espionage Services there has been little mention.

That’s part of what makes this novel so interesting. Julia’s forays into the far east as head of the Registry of OSS brings to life the people she meets and trusts.

There’s Julia’s observations of the situation as the Japanese edge closer to unoccupied countries —through Sri Lanka, northern provinces of China, Burma, eventually down into Malaya.

The people she meets, including nationalists leader Chiang Kai-Shek and Madam Chiang Kai-Shek, communist party adherents—all fighting the common enemy, Japan.

And of course her beginning and subsequent relationship with Paul Child who was a mapmaker, and so much more.

Julia didn’t trust Paul when she first met him but that would slowly develop and become the loving, enhancing lifelong partnership they had.

Paul encouraged Julia “to relax and simply be. She did!

A fascinating couple, both with amazing stories, individually and together, that continued long after the war!

Above all it’s Julia’s attitude towards the local people she works with and meets, her ability to thrive in situations and places most of us would run screaming from, that informs and endears. The flight from India over the ‘bump’ of the Himalaya’s into China was evisceratingly scary. 

A brilliant fictional look at Julia based on factual information of the times. What could’ve, might’ve, should’ve, and possibly did occur. Amazingly in-depth research from Chambers!

Bravo!

A Sourcebooks ARC via NetGalley.                                              

Many thanks to the author and publisher.