Eileen
asked
Mary Chamberlain:
I'm confused about the interaction between Trude and Joe. What was her intent? Was she seeking information about Geoffrey and Dora? The book was terrific, and I will probably reread, as I surely missed some of the subtleties.
Mary Chamberlain
Dear Eileen,
I'm so glad you liked the book - and thank you for your question. My main purpose in this relationship was for Trude to act as a spy - Joe, as a priest, had privy to a wide range of island opinion which, by seducing him, she could access. In the course of this, of course, she stumbled upon the farmhouse and Geoffrey's resistance activities. She wasn't quite a Mata Hari but I liked the idea of a woman spy, and I liked the idea of her seducing a male civilian (it's usually the other way round.) At the same time, Joe was conflicted about his priesthood and lonely so he was vulnerable to her advances. He was an innocent who could not register that he had been exploited. I hope that answers your question!
I'm so glad you liked the book - and thank you for your question. My main purpose in this relationship was for Trude to act as a spy - Joe, as a priest, had privy to a wide range of island opinion which, by seducing him, she could access. In the course of this, of course, she stumbled upon the farmhouse and Geoffrey's resistance activities. She wasn't quite a Mata Hari but I liked the idea of a woman spy, and I liked the idea of her seducing a male civilian (it's usually the other way round.) At the same time, Joe was conflicted about his priesthood and lonely so he was vulnerable to her advances. He was an innocent who could not register that he had been exploited. I hope that answers your question!
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