Post war Britain had to face many changes. Trying to cope with economic hardships, the changing attitude of young women seemed to go head to head with the old guard who just could not accept that women were not willing to be silent or quiet in the face of injustice, and some men not accepting that times have changed.
Set amongst the Yorkshire Dales, Helen is a bright, determined teacher just returned from a stint in Germany, to a sadly neglected, run down school. As a supply teacher she is filling a temporary gap, but she is appalled by not just the conditions of the classrooms but also the out of date practices and the apathy of teachers indifferent to their charges. The Head Teacher has a policy of not interfering or trying to improve the situation. Despite opposition, Helen steps in to improve her class. Moving on to the next school, the Head is only concerned with results at the Eleven Plus exams. Anything else is not necessary. Here too Helen sets things right. Her next assignment takes her to a modern school where romance also follows with not one, but two suitors.
The story is a good informative one about lifestyles, attitudes of the working class and middle class in Yorkshire at the time and the manner in which change was coming. A very good read.
Sent by Boldwood Books for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.
I don't think I've read anything set in post-war Britain. It was a fraught, unsettling time. This is an intriguing setting for a story.
ReplyDelete