As I have mentioned before, many historical fiction novels set in and around WWII usually focus on the war itself, or occupied territories. This one is unique because it is actually set in England in the years leading up to Hitler’s rise.
It starts with an elderly Natalie asking her daughter to find a person for her, and we get an inkling that this person is very important to her past. From there, we are taken back to 1936, when Natalie arrives in England (from Austria) as a nanny (hence the title).
The rest of the story is told entirely in the past, as the reader gets to experience a new country and new customs through Natalie’s 16-year-old eyes. Of course, the timeframe needs to be taken into account here.
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I liked how Natalie tried to fit in with the other servants in the Caplin household and how they eventually came to understand each other. I also thought Natalie’s discomfort in new situations, partnered with her efforts felt realistic.
I did feel like the Caplin family was sort of a collective enigma. At first, I thought it might have been purposeful, with a possible respelling of their name. It wasn’t until later in the book that it became apparent Caroline and her husband were just at opposite purposes. I don’t mind saying that Caro was one of the more easily despisable characters I have come across.
As news comes from home, Natalie realizes that she needs to get her sister and mother out of Vienna. The scenes at the refugee offices were especially interesting, because that is not an aspect that is often addressed, especially the anti-Semitism in western countries. It is often subtle here, mainly because 16 is still a naïve age, but also apparent in cutting remarks and actions of certain characters.
I thought there were a few weak plot points, with Natalie’s love life being one of them. I understand that this was just as much a “coming of age” story as it was a historical novel, but some of her interactions just didn’t ring true to me. They weren’t bad or anything, they just didn’t seem to fit.
It also seemed as if the ending was all wrapped up rather quickly, given the three-year span that was the focus. One of Natalie’s driving forces became trying to help her mom and sister, but that was all addressed quickly with mostly some commentary. I wish it had been a bit more balanced. And the very end seemed a little neat, given the messiness of the rest of the relationships.
For me, it didn’t quite reach the level of success of The Forgotten Girls. Overall, however, it was an interesting book for its unique perspective and focus, which this author does excel at, and for that reason alone, I would definitely recommend this book.
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Author Bio:
Lizzie loves reading ALL the books and has always loved reading the adventures of women in the past so it seemed natural to her to write historical fiction.
She lives with her family by the sea in South East England. And with her dog. She enjoys traveling and lived in Japan for several years. Lizzie has had lots of different jobs from waitressing and teaching to admin and bingo-calling – but being a writer is her absolute favourite.
She’d love to hear what you think of her books – feel free to send her a message on twitter @LizziePagewrite or on FB or leave a review on amazon.
