Author: Diana R. Chambers
Published by: Sourcebooks Landmark on Oct. 22, 2024
Genres: Historical Fiction
Pages: 400
Format: ARC, Paperback
Source: Sourcebooks Landmark
Book Rating: 8/10
Before she mastered the art of French cooking in midlife, Julia Child found herself working in the secrets trade in Asia during World War II, a journey that will delight both historical fiction fans and lovers of America’s most beloved chef, revealing how the war made her into the icon we know now.
Single, 6 foot 2, and thirty years old, Julia McWilliams took a job working for America’s first espionage agency, years before cooking or Paris entered the picture. The Secret War of Julia Child traces Julia’s transformation from ambitious Pasadena blue blood to Washington, DC file clerk, to head of General “Wild Bill” Donovan’s secret File Registry as part of the Office of Strategic Services.
The wartime journey takes her to the Far East, to Asia’s remote frontlines of then-Ceylon, India, and China, where she finds purpose, adventure, self-knowledge – and love with mapmaker Paul Child. The spotlight has rarely shone on this fascinating period of time in the life of (“I’m not a spy”) Julia Child, and this lyrical story allows us to explore the unlikely world of a woman in World War II spy station who has no idea of the impact she’ll eventually impart.
Review:
Immersive, interesting, and well-written!
The Secret War of Julia Child is a rich, intriguing tale set predominantly in Asia during WWII that follows Julia McWilliams, a young woman who, after taking a position working for the OSS, suddenly finds herself in the Far East protecting valuable information, surviving war’s atrocities, finding her true spirit, and meeting the man whom she would love forever.
The prose is polished and evocative. The characters are feisty, driven, and resilient. And the plot, including all the subplots, intertwine and unravel into a sweeping saga of life, loss, heartbreak, betrayal, secrets, espionage, danger, survival, tragedy, friendship, and romance.
Overall, The Secret War of Julia Child is an absorbing, evocative, fascinating novel by Chambers that does a beautiful job of revealing the remarkable life of a woman most of us probably only know or remember due to the cooking feats and successes she had later in life.
This novel is available now.
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Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.