Diary of a Wartime Affair: The True Story of a Surprisingly Modern Romance
£9.99
London in 1934. Clever young civil servant Doreen Bates is working in the same office as E, an older married man. In the years just before the war, they develop an irresistible attraction to one another and strike up a passionate affair. Doreen records it all with startling candour in her diary – secret midnight walks, countryside escapades and stolen moments of intimacy. But Doreen starts to long for a child with E. Despite all the taboos of the time, and against the wishes of E, she is determined to become a mother – even though she knows that her decision will provoke anger and shame from her family, friends and colleagues. Eventually she gets pregnant and is amazed when twins are born during the war. However, Doreen faces an uncertain future – will E ever leave his wife and join his new family?
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‘Unflinchingly honest… this diary is exceptional’ Elizabeth Buchan
‘Tuesday 23 October, 1934
Another glorious sunny day. Lunch in Kens Gdns. E had not slept well “as I longed and longed for you”. It made me happy that he wanted me. I suppose that is mean. He said, “I could pick you out in the dark from fifty women . . .” ‘
The diary of Doreen Bates is a candid, spellbinding portrait of a gutsy young woman working in London in the years before and during the Second World War, as well as an extraordinary account of her long affair with an older, married colleague – one that brazenly challenged the strict conventions of the day.
‘Startlingly frank and readable’ David Kynaston
‘Absolutely engrossing’ Virginia Nicholson
‘Astute, passionate, remarkably intimate, showing us the day-to-day picture of a long relationship’ Guardian
| Weight | 0.268 kg |
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| Dimensions | 19.8 × 12.9 × 2 cm |
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| Cover | Paperback |
| Pages | xix, 305 |
| Language | English |
| Edition | |
| Dewey | 352.63092 (edition:23) |
| Readership | General – Trade / Code: K |
