THE KITCHEN FRONT

Take some freshly estranged sisters, stir in some prisoners of war, a dash of dastardly men and a good helping of whale-meat pie recipes... and leave to simmer.

It’s 1942 and England’s women have been given a directive straight from Churchill himself, “Keep a stiff upper lip and do your part in your kitchen for the war effort”. Leading by example is a BBC radio show, hosted by a man, Ambrose Hill- that teaches Britain’s housewives how to make a lot out of very little. Now they’re searching for a female co-host. Enter Audrey, a war-widowed mother of three, Gwendoline, Audrey’s haughty and monied sister, Nell, a meek but talented house maid, and Zelda, an elite London chef with a secret. As with any good tale about friendship, Jennifer Ryan takes pains to show how the four are better together, than as individuals. They struggle together, they survive together, and the frustration of feeding hungry families with war rationing is brought vividly to life. This is a delightful tale filled with resilient heroines, fascinating history and hope for hopeless times. Dig in!

RRP $34.99