Jennifer Robson is the international bestselling author of Somewhere in France. She holds a doctorate in British economic and social history from Saint Antony’s College, University of Oxford, where she was a Commonwealth Scholar and an SSHRC Doctoral Fellow.Her new novel is After the War is Over.
From Robson's Q & A with Katie Noah Gibson:
Can you talk about the genesis of After the War is Over? (Readers of Somewhere in France will recognize Charlotte as a dear friend of Lilly, the main character of that book.)Visit Jennifer Robson's website.
When I first wrote Somewhere in France, I thought of it as a stand-alone book, but as I worked on later drafts, and the character of Charlotte became clearer, I knew she deserved a book of her own. I included a few details of her backstory, such as her childhood in Somerset and her studies at Oxford, but left myself enough room that I wouldn’t feel too hampered later on when it came time to write her book.
How did you decide what work Charlotte would be doing – i.e. helping the poor and those devastated by the war?
It’s only a small detail in Somewhere in France, but at one point Edward and Lilly talk about Charlotte and what she did after leaving work as Lilly’s governess. I made a spur-of-the-moment decision to send her to Liverpool and put her to work for Eleanor Rathbone, an actual Liverpool politician and social activist. I’m so glad I did, for Miss Rathbone is a personal hero of mine for her pioneering work as a feminist and social activist. As well, Charlotte’s devotion to her, and determination to live up to her mentor’s high standards, became...[read on]
Coffee with a Canine: Jennifer Robson & Ellie.
My Book, The Movie: After the War Is Over.
The Page 69 Test: After the War Is Over.
Writers Read: Jennifer Robson (January 2015).
--Marshal Zeringue