Give Me Tomorrow
Elizabeth Lord writes warm and dependable sagas about the lives of women in the early 20th century. This one, first published in 2006, is no exception. Eveline meets Connie at a suffragette march, and they immediately become friends despite their contrasting backgrounds. Eveline is the daughter of an East End grocer whereas Connie’s father is a Harley Street doctor. And yet both face similar difficulties, especially Connie, whose father is a domineering bully. When she falls in love with a ‘lowly’ bank clerk she is disowned. Eveline, on the other hand, finds herself attracted by a man from the upper classes. But can she trust him?
Their friendship, which begins with a dalliance with the suffragettes, takes them through the First World War and its aftermath with the usual heartbreak and horrors. It endures and it matures.
When I began reading this novel and its vibrant opening scene of a suffragette rally, I had hoped that Connie and Eveline would become more involved with the movement, but this was not to be. If, however, you prefer history to barely ruffle the surface of your reading then this gentle saga is for you.
