Dancing with the Enemy in Aussie Readers

Apr 24, 2022 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: aussie-authors, net-galley, 2022-release, 3500-2022, read-on-kindle, own-read, historical-fiction, arc

Jersey, part of Britain’s Channel Islands, was a peaceful, tranquil place until June in 1940, when, to all intents and purposes, Britain abandoned its island, while German forces took it over without a shot being fired. There were a few days warning when people were advised to evacuate to England, but Hugh Jackson was a doctor, the only one on the island, who had a bevy of patients, including pregnant mothers, and couldn’t see his way clear to leave them. But he encouraged his wife Margaret to l Jersey, part of Britain’s Channel Islands, was a peaceful, tranquil place until June in 1940, when, to all intents and purposes, Britain abandoned its island, while German forces took it over without a shot being fired. There were a few days warning when people were advised to evacuate to England, but Hugh Jackson was a doctor, the only one on the island, who had a bevy of patients, including pregnant mothers, and couldn’t see his way clear to leave them. But he encouraged his wife Margaret to leave, sure the war would be over soon, and they could be reunited. Margaret was pregnant with their first child and he felt she’d be safer away from Jersey.

Sixteen-year-old Tom Gaskell was filled with hatred and humiliation at the German invasion, his mother accused of collaboration, while his father did nothing. Two years had passed since the Germans had arrived and their brutality and cruelness, their rationing of food and medicines, which meant the locals were always hungry, always cold, always sick. Tom and two of his best friends, Frank and Harry, decided to escape to England in a small rowboat, not having any idea of what the outcome would be to this foolhardy plan.

2019 and Xanthe Maxwell of Sydney had arrived in St Helier on the island of Jersey after a traumatic event in her hospital where she worked. She needed some time to evaluate her life, to work out if her life as a doctor was really what she wanted. The house she stayed in had a long ago past and when Xanthe inadvertently came across a hidden diary of the occupation of the island, written in the hand of Dr Jackson, Xanthe was fascinated and horrified to read the story – the day-to-day events – of the lives of Hugh, Tom Gaskell, Bob Blampied and many others.

Dancing With the Enemy by Aussie author Diane Armstrong is another excellent historical novel by this author, set in an obscure place where no one seemed to acknowledge the horrors of those five years. Jersey’s history of those WWII years was traumatic, terrifying and brutal, but its long-ago beauty returned, and its people were happy once again. The author’s note at the end of the novel is interesting, and she says there’s factual information along with the mostly fictional story of the novel. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
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May 09, 2022 Helen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: review-copy-from-netgalley

This was my first Diane Armstrong book but it won’t be the last, this is a beautifully written story told over two time lines, it pulled me in as I got to know the people who lived on Jersey in The Channel Islands during the German occupation in World War two and then in 2019 a young Australian doctor who discovers more than she ever thought she would on her trip.

It is June 1940 and Dr Hugh Jackson and life as he knew is about to change when England abandons The Channel Islands and Hugh makes a This was my first Diane Armstrong book but it won’t be the last, this is a beautifully written story told over two time lines, it pulled me in as I got to know the people who lived on Jersey in The Channel Islands during the German occupation in World War two and then in 2019 a young Australian doctor who discovers more than she ever thought she would on her trip.

It is June 1940 and Dr Hugh Jackson and life as he knew is about to change when England abandons The Channel Islands and Hugh makes a decision to stay for his patients as his pregnant wife leaves for England, Hugh starts a journal that opens up life in these trying times.

In May 1942 young Tom Gaskell is decidedly very angry with what is going on, on the island with Germans taking over everything and even his own mother fraternizing with the Germans he decides that he needs to escape and sets up a plan with his best mates Harry and Frank to do so but what happens will leave him shattered and very guilty.

April 2019 and you Australian Doctor Xanthe Maxwell has come to the end of her tether with the stress and pressure she is under in the hospital when she finds he best friend has committed suicide it is time for her to take a break and she decides on Jersey. At the house she rents she finds and old journal that was written during the occupation in WW11 Dr Hugh Jackson this takes her on a journey back in time to what things were really like on the island the collaboration from some of the residents and the pure strength and caring of others the passion they showed with what they were going through. She also meets another Australian Daniel while he is there studying for his thesis and together they uncover so much about the past.

This is a fabulous story that I would highly recommend, heart-breaking and heart-warming at the same time it is written with honesty and caring and my feelings came to the surface as I got to know Hugh, Tom and Xanthe, a must read for any lover of historical fiction and stories about World War 2 the Chanel Islands and Jersey are a beautiful setting.

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy to read and review

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