Fur Coat, No Knickers

by Anna King

Set between the years 1938-48, this is the story of three generations of women living in the same house during the war years.Aggie, the grandmother, is a strong matriarchal figure, who keeps the family together - until her age begins to get to her and Grace, the main central character, starts to look after her. Hetty, the mother, is happily married to Sam but they are tragically killed when a bomb hits the cinema they are in. Grace, Vi and Polly are the daughters whose lives are particularly affected by the outbreak of war and we see how they cope with air raid sirens, rationing, war work - and love.

Genres: Fiction

384 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Anna King is the pseudonym of Josephine Carr, a writer formerly published by HarperCollins, NAL/Penguin, and Dial Books for Young Readers. She's delighted to embrace independent publishing with her new company, Three Kings Books (also publishing Joseph King with novels CRACK and EVIL DOES IT, currently available for Amazon's Kindle).

Reviews

[Melanie Farmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

As we all know, I love a bit of World War II historical fiction so this was right up my alley.  The novel is based around the Donnelly family and their friends as they find themselves in London for the duration of World War II.  They face tragedy, love and loss as they find themselves in a new world that involves bombings, blackouts and rationing.  The story centres on Grace, Violet and Polly, three sisters who are each trying to find their way in the world at a time of great uncertainty.

I really do love novels based during this time period.  In the face of adversity, the characters are brought together in a way that hasn't happened since.  There isn't anyone that hasn't suffered the loss of a loved one as the men of the population are shipped off to war.  However the women left behind pull together to keep the country running, and to keep each other going despite their personal battles and grief.  Grace, Violet and Polly are three very different women, which is very apparent in the novel.  Grace fights to be strong and keep her family together; Violet is fiercely independent and in the new world finds herself conflicted between gaining more independence and the draw of her family. Polly is the frightened youngest Donnelly who is struggling to hold it together when faced with terrifying evenings in bomb shelters, as the Germans rain down on London with truly horrific results.

The fear and solidarity of those times in the late 1930s and early 1940s really comes across in this novel.  These women fight for themselves and for their family as they struggle to survive.  This is a story of tragedy, heroism, love, loss and family.  Go and grab yourself a copy of this novel!

Thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for providing me a copy of this lovely novel!  My review is all mine, voluntarily given.

To see my other book reviews please check out my blog - https://chapterandcake.wordpress.com

[Janette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first Anna King book I have read. I really enjoy wartime novels with their strong female characters. This is a story of family, love, loss and uncertainty.

This book was well written with 3 main characters - Grace, Violet and Poppy. I enjoyed all three of the characters who all cope very differently with their circumstances. The solidarity experienced during the war is very apparent in this novel.

A lovely wartime family saga. I enjoyed this and will read more by Anna King.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kathleen Nott · Rating 1 out of 5]

Predictable

The usual story that always works out in the end. Fancy Chris’s dad being a plastic surgeon, everything fell into place.. the world isn’t like that and life gives some big kicks that can’t be undone
Sorry it was very predictable

[Bernie Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book

[Alina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fur Coat, No Knickers is a bittersweet story of Donnelly family during a dreadful time of WWII.

Shortly after Irishman Patrick Donnelly arrives into England, he finds his way into a card game house where he wins an ownership of an old and antique house. Years and hard work later, an old house becomes a grand mansion. Angie, sassy and hot-tempered lassy wins Patrick's heart, and they live a happy life together in the family home, bearing two sons, Sam and Danny. After Patrick's death, Angie remains living in the house with Danny and Sam's family: wife Hetty and their daughters Grace, Violet and Polly.

Angie, a matriarch of Donnelly's family, could never imagine the horrors WWII will bring on her family. After Sam and Hetty's death, she strives to keep her family safe and together. But it's a fulltime job to keep up with her granddaughters. Polly is the youngest grandchild, suffers a trauma after her parents' death. Violet, sassy, beautiful but wild heartbreaker. And finally Grace, sweet, goodhearted and dedicated young girl. However keeping her eyes on the girls, Angie missed an opportunity the save her youngest son from a seduction of a scheming Beryl Lovesett.

A gripping novel, with strong female characters that takes place in London during the time of WWII. It is full of courage, hope, and heartbreak. I enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who is interested in WWII history.

[Sue Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will occasionally read this genre for a bit of light relief if I have time but cannot say that this one particularly gripped me. I will recommend this to my Mum however who reads these titles avidly.