Publication Date: March 12, 2024
When the Blitz imperils the heart of a London neighborhood, three young women must use their fighting spirit to save the community’s beloved library in this novel based on true events from the author of The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir.
When the new deputy librarian, Juliet Lansdown, finds that Bethnal Green Library isn’t the bustling hub she is expecting, she becomes determined to breathe life back into it. But can she show the men in charge that a woman is up to the task of running the library, especially when a confrontation with her past threatens to derail her?
Katie Upwood is thrilled to be working at the library, although she is only there until she heads off to university in the fall. But after the death of her beau on the front line and amid tumultuous family strife, she finds herself harboring a life-changing secret with no one to turn to for help.
Sofie Baumann, a young Jewish refugee, came to London on a domestic service visa only to find herself working as a maid for a man who treats her abominably. She escapes to the library every chance she can, finding friendship in the literary community and aid in finding her sister, who is still trying to flee occupied Europe.
When a slew of bombs destroys the library, Juliet relocates the stacks to the local Underground station where the city’s residents shelter nightly, determined to lend out stories that will keep spirits up. But tragedy after tragedy threatens to unmoor the women and sever the ties of their community. Will Juliet, Kate, and Sofie be able to overcome their own troubles to save the library? Or will the beating heart of their neighborhood be lost forever?
Amid the nightly air raids in London during World War II, residents seeking shelter underground find distraction through books.
Author Jennifer Ryan delivers a fascinating tale in The Underground Library. Central to the story are three young women who share a love of books.
Juliet gets a chance at her dream job as a deputy librarian, but her boss firmly shuts down her innovative ideas. Reading aloud while at the underground shelter has kindled an impressive audience of people interested in borrowing books.
Katie, who also works at the library, is preparing to attend college when she gets the news her beloved beau is presumed dead. With the prospect of being a social outcast when she discovers her pregnancy, Katie faces difficult decisions.
Meanwhile, Sofie is trying to get news of the family she left behind in Germany. As a Jewish girl, she serves as a maid to an awful old man. Her love for books provides her with an escape.
These three women share a common love for books while wrestling with a number of problems. When the library is bombed, they are determined to save their beloved books.
The Underground Library packs rich historical details into a beautifully written story celebrating the bonds forged through books.
Hello, I’m the author of National Bestseller The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir, The Spies of Shilling Lane, and The Kitchen Front. Before I began writing, I was a nonfiction book editor with a passion for the Second World War. My warm and cheerful grandmother would tell stories about that era, both funny and fascinating, and the books are based on these.
If you have read any of my books, do get in touch and tell me what you think. And please visit my website for free monthly giveaways.
