London, 1926. Two baby girls are born just hours and miles apart. Both will grow up in very different families, each will carry the burden of responsibility, service, and duty. One will wear the Crown of the Commonwealth, the other will bury the bodies of the dead. Over the course of ninety years, their paths will cross three times. This is the story of Betsy and Lilibet.
Autorentext
Sophie Duffy is the author of The Generation Game (2011), The Holey Life (2012), Bright Stars (2015) and Betsy And Lillibet (2018). Her work has won the Yeovil Literary Prize and the Luke Bitmead Bursary, and has been nominated for the Guardian Not the Booker and the Harry Bowling Prize. She is a writer and creative writing tutor and mentor for CreativeWritingMatters, as well as an administrator for the Exeter Novel Prize and other literary competitions.
Zusammenfassung
A tale which spans generations to explore the life and times of a family at the heart of their community, the story of a stoic young woman who shares a connection with her queenly counterpart in more ways than one...London, 1926. Two baby girls are born just hours and miles apart. One you know as the Queen of England, but what of the other girl- the daughter of an undertaker named in her honour? Betsy Sunshine grows up surrounded by death in war-torn London, watching her community grieve for their loved ones whilst dealing with her own teenage troubles... namely her promiscuous sister Margie. As Betsy grows older we see the how the country changes through her eyes, and along the way we discover the birth of a secret that threatens to tear her family apart.'Told with wit and warmth, this is a gritty, truly British, saga; from war time childhood fortitude though to a lifetime of love, loss and laughter. Dive in and enjoy!' Paul McVeigh'A charming and funny look at family, loyalty and love during the Queen's reign. I think Her Majesty would approve' Cathy Bramley'So atmospheric you can almost smell the Brylcreem...' Laurie Graham'Clever and charming, I loved this look at the complications of family life' Katie Fforde