Historical Fiction Annotation: The Alice Network

Title: The Alice Network
Author: Kate Quinn
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publication Date: June 2017
Number of Pages: 505
Geographical Setting: Europe
Time Period: 1915, 1947
Series: No  
Subject Headings: World War (1914-1918); Women Spies - England - Fiction; Underground movements - Fiction
Appeal: Flawed characters, dramatic tone, dual narratives, descriptive writing
3 terms that best describe this book: women spies, suspenseful, steady pace



Plot Summary: In 1947, Charlie finds herself pregnant, unmarried, and on a trip with her mother to Europe to have her pregnancy taken care of. When their boat ports in England, Charlie takes the opportunity to flee to London, in search of a woman named Eve Gardner, and more importantly, the whereabouts of her missing cousin, Rose, who hasn’t been seen since the war ended. We also follow the story of Eve, in 1915, and her journey to becoming a spy in France, working under a woman named Lili. Eve and Charlie’s paths collide in London in 1947, and their journey to find Charlie’s cousin forces Eve to come to terms with her experiences during World War I.

Appeal: 

Tone/Mood: "The mood of historical novels runs the gamut from rollicking to somber" (Saricks, 2005, p. 292). The tone for The Alice Network is one of dramatic suspense, if I had to narrow it down. The reader spends most of the book following Charlie, trying to figure out where or if she'll find her cousin. Similarly, the reader is on edge during Eve's chapters, because she's spying for the resistance in France. You constantly question when or if she's going to get caught, and what will happen. Obviously, she makes it through, but not unscathed.  

Frame/Setting: "Unlike the magical worlds of Fantasy or the Western landscapes, which are sometimes realistic and sometimes mythical, worlds in Historical Fiction require accurate historical facts" (p. 292). Both the 1915 and 1947 timelines feel accurate, and in the authors note the reader learns that Lilli was based off an actual woman during World War I. There are a few other events that happen or are discussed in the book that bear great significance on the plot that are also accurate.

Story Line: "Characters take center stage, and the lives of the protagonists are more important than individual events" (p. 295). The Alice Network definitely takes into account the characters more so than the events. Though events do play a role, they are not the focus. The novel spans portions of two world wars in addition to times immediately following the wars. Events happen because they are important to the character's development, not the other way around.  

Style/Language:  "While some readers are put off by attempts to make the language authentic to the times, others relish that touch" (p. 297). The language is authentic in that Quinn does occasionally employ the use of phrases from the time, and she does point out Finn's Scottish accent on occasion. 

Characterization: "Readers expect accuracy in the presentation of characters as well as in other details. Even if they are not real historical personages, they must fit within the times" (p. 296).  Quinn's real historical personage was Lilli, along with a few other very minor characters. Quinn held very closely to known accounts and events that Lilli partook in, which formed some of the plot line for the 1915 story arc. The characters acted in line with the times, both 1915 and 1947.  

Pacing: "Historical novels are usually big books, with stories that unfold at a leisurely pace" (p. 292). The Alice Network is 505 pages long, which is somewhat substantial. It was necessary, however, to fit both time frames in. Additionally, the alternating of the narratives slowed the pace down a bit while simultaneously creating more suspense and keeping the reader eager to finish their current chapter.

3 Relevant Works and Authors:

Restless by William Boyd: Sally Gilmartin appears to be a respectable English widow, until her past catches up with her and her family learns of her past, namely her days as a spy during World War II. Dual narratives alternate between Sally’s past and her daughter, Ruth’s, present, as Ruth grapples with her mother’s past and tries to learn as much as she can. Chosen for its focus on women spies, dual narratives, and historical nature.

Trapeze by Simon Mawer: Marian is recruited by the ‘Inter-Services Research Bureau" during World War II. She thinks it’s because she’s bilingual, but as she completes training and heads to France to become part of the resistance, she finds that she may have been chosen for the job for other reasons - personal connections. Chosen for its suspenseful nature, use of women spies, and focus on France during World War II.

The spy who loved: the secrets and lives of Christine Granville by Clare Mulley: This nonfiction work followed the life of Christine Granville, born Krystyna Skarbek in Poland in 1908. Immediately following Poland’s invasion in 1938, she and her husband traveled to London, where she offered her skills to the British Secret Intelligence Service. Following the war - and many missions - the book concludes with her death in 1952, at the hands of an obsessive suitor. Chosen because it focuses on a spy with many connections, though set during World War II.

My Take: Eve's plot had more depth to it, and I feel like some of that had to do with Louise de Bettignies and Quinn following her story as closely as possible. I also enjoyed Charlie's narrative, as it brought Eve and Charlie together, and showed the lasting effects of Eve's time as a spy. I was also very curious about where her cousin was and in the beginning I was more drawn to Charlie's plot as it had more of a mysterious ending - we knew Eve would survive, so things couldn't get too dark, but there was still a big question mark over Rose's fate. I'm a sucker for historical fiction, so this was an easy choice and read for me, even though it was a tad lengthy.