The Swing

by Margaret Scott

Anyone who is fascinated by the Second World War in France will be drawn to this novel. The heroes are officers in the French and British Edmond de Valliet, a talented amateur pianist and Robert Cummings a businessman, and a Territorial Gordon Highlander. He marries the pianist Anne Favoret, who voices France's denial of Nazi ambitions in Europe in the 1930s. Edmond and Robert retreat with the Fifty-First Highland Division to St Valéry where they are surrounded by Rommel's tanks in June 1940. The author draws a stark contrast between personal loyalty and political expediency which contributes to the tragic surrender of some of Britain's finest troops. The novel unfolds against a backdrop of a hundred and fifty years of social unrest in France, and the division of church and state. The occupier and the collaborator, priest and aristocrat, receive little sympathy, but the manipulative tactics of the Resistance and the British Secret Services also come under scrutiny. In a war setting it confronts more 'modern' homophobia, both societal and as a tool for blackmail, and the tussle between a woman's professional and private life. Anne finds fulfillment playing the piano as part of a classical music team for ENSA. The prologue alludes to a mystery which holds the reader until the last page. What happened to Anne's adopted sister, Marie, for whom Anne felt jealousy, guilt and protectiveness? When war breaks out, Marie is left alone in Normandy, torn between the persuasive voice of a former admirer, and her autocratic brother-in-law, Charles de Valliet. Now an old woman, Anne has discovered the truth, She tells her She tells her story.

296 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2009

About the author

The Scottish pianist, Margaret Scott, published her first poem inspired by Greek myths, told by her father, when she was seven. When she retired from being Head of Keyboard at Uppingham School, she started to write novels, of which ‘The Swing’ is the first. Many of the early episodes are based on her own experience. Recently Margaret has written a series of short stories. ‘The first English Poem’, which was awarded a prize by the Writers’ Forum, is based on the legend of St Caedmon.

Reviews

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were a few places where a good editor could have fixed small things (oh the perils of self-publishing) and the first few chapters are not as well written as the rest of the book, but looking past that, the author of this largely(?) autobiographical account comes off as a remarkable woman who lived through some really challenging times! It makes for an engaging story: She was born in France, became a professional musician, and lived a complicated life during WWII (see book description). As a character, I was uplifted by her tolerance, her recognition that most people are good even if they sometimes have bad leaders, and her will to forgive after the war. She's lived her life admirably among a cast of memorable characters and told her story very well.