Jackie
asked:
Am I the only person who noted the major historical error in regards to the decorations at the Willard Hotel? In 1946, when Grace and Mark went into the lobby "the ceiling was elaborately painted with the seals of all fifty states". Hello...this is 1946. Hawaii and Alaska don't obtain statehood until 1959.
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Toni
I wonder if you were reading an uncorrected advance copy. The one I am reading says 48 states.
I did notice the more glaring error, when Grace is in a café in 1946 and watching the news on a tv set. TV was still so new, it would be very unlikely that there was one in a café, and it would definitely not have been broadcasting about a traffic fatality in New York city.
I did notice the more glaring error, when Grace is in a café in 1946 and watching the news on a tv set. TV was still so new, it would be very unlikely that there was one in a café, and it would definitely not have been broadcasting about a traffic fatality in New York city.
Anne Marie
Not only that but Grace describes learning about Eleanor’s death on the news. But regular television news didn’t start for years after the events took place. Sloppy.
Angela
So glad I opened this comments section. I noticed all the errors that many of you have mentioned. In some case I went back & reread a few pages back to see if I missed something. At least I am not alone! Thaks!
P.S. WOW, who is the editor? Needs to be looking for a new line of work!
P.S. WOW, who is the editor? Needs to be looking for a new line of work!
Cynthia Grove
I didn't notice those two but I did notice mention being made by Grace and Tom of a planned cruise/belated honeymoon on the QEII after the war. Sorry but the QEII wasn't built until the late 1960s - launched in 1967, maiden voyage in 1969. Cruises didn't come into fashion until the 1970s.
Then Grace addresses someone as Sir Meacham which is an absolute absurdity unless Meacham is really the man's first name - unlikely.
The guard unties Julian hands then leaves the room. Marie throws herself at Julian who cannot respond because his hands are tied - really?
Then Grace addresses someone as Sir Meacham which is an absolute absurdity unless Meacham is really the man's first name - unlikely.
The guard unties Julian hands then leaves the room. Marie throws herself at Julian who cannot respond because his hands are tied - really?
Barbara
Waited months for this book from library. Very disappointed. QEII in 1944 (regular voyages started 1969). Nylon stockings, TV news, rental cars. Who is the editor? Single parent, duct tape …..
A real disservice to Vera Atkins and all those of SOE during WWII.
A real disservice to Vera Atkins and all those of SOE during WWII.
Suzanne
Glad I'm not the only one who found the factual and continuity errors frustrating. Another puzzling scene from the book - when on earth did someone have time to take photos of the agents playing rugby together, and of Marie and Julian looking lovingly at each other, and how did Marie get those photos?! It just doesn't fit in the timeline.
Pam Fletcher
Did you read the part about Grace musing in 1946 about planning for a honeymoon on the QEII? A ship not commissioned until many years later.
Gordon
You have to suspend your disbelief throughout this book. I'm pretty sure a mid-level spy wouldn't be privy to the dates o D-Day.
Carole
Very sloppy editing thro ughout.
Barbara
On the audio version it says 48 states.
Lidia
The book was generally poorly edited. In addition to the historical errors lots of people note (TVs, nylons—actually Eleanor does say the girls in France were using iodine to dye their legs to look like stockings.. which doesn't sound healthy or practical—, rental cars, photos of agents playing rugby...I noticed continuity problems within the story itself: inappropriate and unlikely behavior for agents trying to remain under cover (see my review), saying Vesper was a few years older than the rest at the beginning and then saying he and Will were no more than 20 in a photo at the end... the editor named in the acknowledgements may be a good story-teller but she's a darned poor editor.
Kay
NOTED! BLAH! Also someone considered renting a car at one point in the book. Really? Was this available in that era, especially in war time?
Kathryn Brunette
Another error is the mention of Marie's nylons on page 101. Nylon was restricted to military use during the war, and nylons would never have been available to the orphaned French shop girl who was Marie's cover and unlikely even for a British woman on a budget in 1944.
Reading Cat
Didn't get there yet bc I'm still stuck on 'single mother' (first used in 1965 in the US, not UK) and 'duct tape' which was US military use only and immediately, by the rules of the world, an automatic giveaway of a spy...even if we could imagine a British spy using US military only equipment. Truly poorly researched.
Lu Sadler
I am listening to this book now and just heard the scene in the Willard Hotel. The narrator definitely said "...with the seals of all forty-eight states".
Sylvia Snowe
There are loads of inaccuracies like this. Marie lands in France wearing nylons, when she was clearly told no French women had any stockings, they wore leg make up. And nylons were only invented in 1939, it wasn't like they were widely available. My mom wore leg make up during WWII, and she lived in Minnesota. What in blazes was Marie wearing when she walked through a woods by herself? A cute skirt? In the winter?
Kristin Nelson
Thanks to all of you commenters, I WON'T be putting this on my want to read list! I can't handle historical fiction that is full of anachronisms.
Nancy Ellis
It jumped out at me, too. I have the hardcover book from the library, so it is not an advance copy. Apparently they correct the error? If so, I'm glad!
Katherine
I have a 2019 edition with the incorrect info about 50 states in 1946. I emailed the publisher. I imagine many readers have done the same.
Miriam
I also noticed the tv anachronism.
Beverly Shustack
the copy I read said 48 states as well.
Lise Mayne
Of course. It's consistent with the sloppy writing and fact-checking.
Robin McMillion
My version (published in 2019 and purchased in a bookstore in Nov. 2020) also says 50 states. Also, there's someone addressing a character as "Ms," which wasn't in use until the 1960s.
Atemployyee6
i really want to read this book but i cant.?
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