The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club, by Helen Simonson - Lea
When I saw this very long title my first reaction was: “Um, not sure what to expect.” But then I read the back and it totally grabbed my attention: a book touching on the role of women after World War I? Yes, I do want to read this.
The book tells the story of Constance Haverhill who becomes a lady’s companion to an old lady from a grand family who is convalescing at a seaside hotel. There she gets acquainted with the colourful character Poppy Wirrall, who runs a ladies’ motorcycle taxi service, employing several local women. Then there is Harris Wirrall, Poppy’s brother, a fighter pilot who lost a leg, and his dark moods in the aftermath of the war. These people and the various members of the Ladies’ Motorcycle Club during the summer of 1919 not only have an impact on Constance’s character; they also shape her future. As she herself said: “I’ve decided that a woman should always aim to be competent rather than decorative.”
As a student of English I did a project on the suffragette movement, and some of the attitudes expressed about women in the book certainly led to some teeth grinding: “Derek says that marriage is the only really respectable job for a woman.” Derek had me almost jumping out of my chair in protest. Even after showing their worth by keeping the country going during the war, women were expected to take a back seat and leave the ‘important’ jobs to the men!
I loved the language of the book: I felt I was there at the seaside hotel and heard the banter between brother and sister and their upper class friends. I saw the ladies of the Motorcycle Club doing their very worthwhile jobs. I felt indignation at reading the attitudes of men, and the government come to that, after the war; the superiority shown by the upper classes towards those serving them. But there were also the more lighthearted, humorous scenes which had me chuckling away. In short, a book definitely worth reading.
This is Helen Simonson’s second novel. I am very keen to now also read her debut novel Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand.
Lea
