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What's the Name of That Book??? discussion
This topic is about
Rose of Nancemellin
SOLVED: Adult Fiction
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SOLVED. Historical fiction set in 20th century UK, before one of the World Wars [s]
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Someone on livejournal found the book for me - Rose of Nancemillin by Malcolm MacDonald. :)
The book is set in the UK, either just before World War I or World War II, and centres on a girl whose name is Lucy, I believe. She works as a servant in a house by a body of water, and one day, a sailor (a Captain?) kind of drifts up to the house. The masters of the house are away, so she pretends to be the daughter of the house and takes him in and nurses him. Then the family comes back, her lies are exposed, and she leaves.
She drifts around the UK (and perhaps continental Europe? I can't recall). She has a brief affair with a painter. Eventually she begins to act in plays and is known for throwing her voice, and she does comedy shows on the side under an anagram of her name so no one knows who she is.
At some point she kind of goes into a shotgun wedding with a wealthy man who may or may not be noble. Soon after, he goes off to the war, gets wounded, and ends up in the infirmary next to the sailor that she took in when she was still a servant. I think they talk to each other about her.
I'm also fairly sure that the book is written by a man - first name of Tom, perhaps. And it's 300+ pages in hardcover, and the book is a good size dimensionally as well.
Thanks to anyone who can help me! I've been trying to figure this one out for five years or so. :3