Eleanor Harkstead's Blog

Get stuck in a lift with a Vegas hellraiser!

We have another story in Best of Woman’s Weekly Fiction –  Jeannie gets stuck in a lift (or should that be elevator?) in Las Vegas with a hellraiser!

Best of Woman’s Weekly fiction: The Song of the Summer

We’ve got another story in Best of Woman’s Weekly Fiction! What happens when Dorothy the chambermaid meets a Broadway star?

Catherine’s in Vanity Fair!

We have fabulous news – Catherine Curzon is featured in the iconic magazine “Vanity Fair”, with her book “The Imprisoned Princess”, in an article on royals in disgrace. Do have a read!

The Imprisoned Princess is out now in ebook and hardback from Pen & Sword.

The Codebreaker Girls – now available in large print!

We’re really excited that The Codebreaker Girls is available in large print. It’s already on the shelves of libraries around the world!

Best of Woman’s Weekly Fiction: The Raven Road

Our latest short story, “The Raven Road”, is in the current issue of The Best of Woman’s Weekly Fiction, and is on the front cover, too! We loved writing this historical tale, set in the Georgian era of stagecoaches and highwaymen.

Four more Ellie Curzon sagas for Orion!

We’re really pleased to tell you that we’ve just signed with Orion Dash to write four more Ellie Curzon sagas. News on our next releases soon – watch this space!

Under a Spitfire Sky hits 1,000 on Amazon!

We’re so excited to see our debut Ellie Curzon novel, Under a Spitfire Sky, reaching 1,000 ratings on Amazon. Thanks so much for reading and enjoying Florence and Siegfried’s story!

Here, there, everywhere!

Our first piece of news is that we’re in , which you can find on the Shondaland site; the people behind Bridgerton, Gray’s Anatomy and Inventing Anna.

And secondly, we’ve got a story in the current issue of Best of Woman’s Weekly Fiction. A young family go on a canal boat holiday to get closer to nature. What could possibly go wrong? Buy the magazine to find out!

Wartime weddings for Valentine’s Day

There’s something particularly special about wartime weddings. At a dark time, while dealing with shortages, rationing and danger, sweethearts try their best to celebrate love and look towards a happier future.

The most well-known and evocative wedding dresses from WW2 were made from parachute silk.

Via the Smithsonian

This wedding gown is made from the parachute that saved Maj. Claude Hensinger’s life in 1944. It was worn by his fiancée, Ruth, their daughter and granddaughter too. You would never think that such a romantic confection of a dress made with so many creamy ruches and a train could’ve started off strapped to Hensinger’s back as he jumped out of a plane.

Perhaps the most poignant parachute silk wedding dress belonged to Gena Goldfinger. She was liberated from the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp on 15th April 1945. Two days later, she met Sergeant Norman Turgel from the British Army, and only a few months later, in October 1945, the couple were married. Her dress can be seen at the Imperial War Museum.

Via the IWM

Not all brides could get hold of a parachute, though, and would borrow a wedding dress; my friend’s grandma got married in my great-aunt’s pre-war dress. Still other women opted to get married in a nice suit or dress paired with accessories such as stockings they’d managed to find and keep in their bottom drawer, jewellery, veils or a pretty hat. Although clothing was rationed, millinery supplies weren’t – you just had to try to get hold of them. Buttons were even in short supply, so notice how the next two brides don’t have buttons on their coats or jackets.

This British bride appeared among my family photos. We don’t know who this couple is, but it’s a wonderful example of what you could do to make your day special, even if you couldn’t wear a big white dress. She’s matched her dark shoes with dark gloves, and is wearing a belt with a flower design. The bolero jacket she’s wearing over her dress has a splash of embellishment too.

It was usual for men to marry in uniform if they were in the services as it meant they’d look very smart, and many men were proud of their uniform. My grandma was looking forward to her wedding day in London, in 1942, partly because she was excited about walking down the aisle on the arm of a soldier – my grandad.

The big day arrived, and my grandma walked through the door of the church, looking up the aisle towards the altar rail for her soldier. But alas, my grandad had decided to dress in civvies for the occasion. According to my grandad when he told me this story many years later, my grandma was not very happy!

So my grandad made it up to my grandma a few days later by taking her to a photography studio. He donned his uniform, and she put on her wedding outfit again, and my grandma finally had her soldier. Although not for long – after a brief honeymoon at the seaside (accompanied by my great-grandmother and my grandad’s sisters), the war took him away. He finally came home in 1946.

Thanks to my partner in crime, Catherine Curzon, for the parachute dresses. If you love vintage and antique fashion, Georgian royals, and the Hollywood Golden Age, make sure you follow Catherine on Twitter – look out for #FrockingFabulous and #GravyMagnet!

Listen to The Codebreaker Girls!

The Codebreaker Girls is available in ebook and on Audible, and you can borrow the audiobook from your local library too! It’s read by Polly Edsell.