BOOK REVIEW: The latest novel by wonderful Australian Historical Fiction author, Pamela Hart, The Charleston Scandal is the story of a young Australian actress trying to make her way in 1920’s London.
England is in party-mode after World War I. Glamour, sparkly dresses and lots of drinking are served up in a society of rigid class lines that some are willing to blur to partake in this new hedonistic way of living.
Kit is from an upper-class Sydney family but is drawn to the theatre. She plays opposite Canadian Actor, Zeke Gardiner, whose stage name also has the purpose of hiding his past.
She parties with Adele and Fred Astaire. Yes...that Fred Astaire.
She finds herself at the best clubs dancing with the elite, even the Prince of Wales himself. But when a photographer captures and prints a picture of her dancing the flirty Charleston with the Prince...a scandal ensues.
She’s forced to keep up the pretence of a romance with the very respectable Lord Henry Carleton to take the heat away from the palace. And finds herself navigating blurry lines between what is real and fake in her life.
I loved how Pamela explored the theme of the large numbers of women who during this time were battling with their yearning for more than a traditionally domestic role.
After many women had entered the workforce during World War I, at this time they were expected to return. But many felt for the first time they could speak up and indeed stand up and build an independent life.
BOOK REVIEW: Kit's feeling of fear and insecurity in her ability to support herself is palpable.
True to Pamela's previous historical fiction works, there is, of course, romance.
Kit has duelling love interests and some big decisions to make both about love and whether or not to stand on her own two feet or fall back into the safety net of the society she was brought up in.
Pamela Hart usually stays within the World War I era. I loved that she ventured out into a new time setting and captured its spirit.
Reading this novel, I felt like I was a voyeur looking into a world of 1920's theatre and royalty.
Final rating - 4 out of 5 stars! I love me some Pamela Hart.
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