Radio Girls by Sarah-Jane Stratford

If you love history and women’s fiction, I have the book for you. This new release I was able to review offers an engaging story with a combination of real life events, people, and places along with some fictional characters to show us life in a changing Europe. Beautifully written and highly interesting, you have to check out:

Radio Girls by Sarah-Jane Stratford
Publisher: NAL (June 14, 2016)
ISBN-13: 978-0451475565

The Great War is over, and change is in the air, in this novel that brings to life the exciting days of early British radio…and one woman who finds her voice while working alongside the brilliant women and men of the BBC.

London, 1926. American-raised Maisie Musgrave is thrilled to land a job as a secretary at the upstart British Broadcasting Corporation, whose use of radio—still new, strange, and electrifying—is captivating the nation. But the hectic pace, smart young staff, and intimidating bosses only add to Maisie’s insecurity.

Soon, she is seduced by the work—gaining confidence as she arranges broadcasts by the most famous writers, scientists, and politicians in Britain. She is also caught up in a growing conflict between her two bosses, John Reith, the formidable Director-General of the BBC, and Hilda Matheson, the extraordinary director of the hugely popular Talks programming, who each have very different visions of what radio should be.

Under Hilda’s tutelage, Maisie discovers her talent, passion, and ambition. But when she unearths a shocking conspiracy, she and Hilda join forces to make their voices heard both on and off the air…and then face the dangerous consequences of telling the truth for a living.

My Thoughts on Radio Girls by Sarah-Jane Stratford

This book offers an interesting look at England and Europe in the time before World War II as Hitler and his Nazi party are starting to make themselves known in Germany. With the BBC just beginning and captivating all of England, the author gives us a tour of what it would be like working in this highly impressionable industry and place.

With political issues surrounding everything the BBC is doing, pressures are coming from all over to control and force a particular political agenda. But all is not what it seems in the BBC and our radio girls have discovered A conspiracy that can change not only the listening world but the political arena in England.

The author is done fabulous job in showing us life in England right when the women get open voting but yet women are expected to leave their jobs if they get married. What jobs there are for women are few and if you actually have a mind and brain as a woman, pressures were still there to hold a woman to a service capacity only.

This book goes one step further and shows us strong women that are involved in the BBC and the work that they did and the impressionable topics they brought to their listeners and readers.

This book is very interesting read on women’s history and empowerment. While the beginning was a bit slow, the book really took off from the middle on and especially the ending. The authors knowledge of the time and her incorporation of real people in history combined with fictional characters made for an inspiring and in-depth read. Perfect for any woman or man that’s interested in the changing world of the late 1920’s.

Disclaimer: Chris has personally reviewed the product listed above. She has not received any monetary compensation for her review but did receive a free product to try out so she could evaluate and use it for this post. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ.