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The Alice Network
The Alice Network
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The Alice Network - Kate Quinn
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Yes this novel really brings to light the sacrifices and hardships women endured during war time and what an important role women played. When I read stories like Eve's even though it is fiction I sometimes think how petty many of our problems are today. I really enjoyed this novel. It didn't easily fit into one genre. It was a bit mystery/ suspense blended with historical fiction and even a bit of romance so will appeal to a lot of readers.
As this story alternates between 1915, during WW1 and 1947, after the end of WW2, the dual chronologies successfully go back and forth between the time-periods. There is enough detail to put the reader right into the setting by providing a good sense of history and an immersive experience. I also enjoy when historical fiction gives me a different perspective on the time-period. The Alice Network did just that by portraying the contributions and sacrifices a group of women made during WW1.
The author does a good job of blending real life people and events with fictional characters. Although Eve is fictitious, the Alice Network actually existed, and was among the most successful rings of Allied spies during WW1. Eve answered to a real-life heroine, named Louise de Bettignies, a historical figure who became known as the queen of spies. Kate Quinn does an amazing job in using Louise de Bettignies’ story. The Alice Network was the spy ring that Bettignies led and became known as such because her alias was Alice Dubois.
The 1915 storyline is based around espionage and Eve’s own history as a member of the network. It includes interesting details of spy craft, such as coded messages on paper wrapped around hairpins or hidden in umbrella staffs and the heels of shoes, maps drawn on petticoats and the different ways the women manipulated their way through border checkpoints. There are scenes which were difficult to read as Eve has to make some sacrifices as a woman in order to keep her cover. However, for the most part, this was outweighed by Eve’s wins and successes in infiltrating the enemy as a result of her cleverness and being underestimated simply because she was a woman.
The 1947 storyline is about a road trip through post-war France, where Charlotte and Eve are searching for Charlotte’s cousin, Rose. The effects, both mentally and physically, that the war took on these women is well portrayed. However, both learn how to continue living after dealing with their own life-changing experiences. During their search for answers, their trip becomes a journey of discovery where the two women learn to love, respect and support each other. There is a romance but it is not central to the plot. The meat of this novel is about strong, brave and resilient female characters and the relationships between them.
There is an afterward with suggested further readings and notes from the author which include details about the history of the spy network. Some situations in the book seemed to be a little unbelievable. However, when I looked up the historical details, these aspects are based mostly on true events, so truth IS sometimes stranger than fiction.
Kate Quinn is a national best-selling author. She attended Boston University, where she earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Classical Voice. She is a history buff and has written several historical fiction series prior to writing The Alice Network.
If you like historical fiction, you will love this book. If not, I still think you will enjoy it, as it reads just as much as a suspense novel, with a bit of romance, as it does a historical one.