Charlotte Bingham

From the bestselling author comes a beguiling comic memoir about a young woman who discovers her father is a spy (and was the model for John le Carré's George Smiley) and goes to work as a secretary in 1950s MI5. It seems to me now that everyone who came to our house in those days was a spy. . . When Charlotte Bingham, daughter of an obscure aristocrat, was summoned to her father's office aged eighteen, she never expected to discover that this aloof, soberly-dressed parent was a spy. Even more ominous than The Facts was his suggestion that she should stop drifting around working for the sort of people her mother could never ask to dinner and get a proper job, something patriotic and worthwhile. So Lottie finds herself outside MI5's Mayfair offices in a dreary suit, feeling naked without her false eyelashes. Miserably assigned to the formidable Dragon, Lottie wishes for pneumonia, or anything to release her from the torment of typing. But as another secretary, the serene Arabella, starts illuminating the mysteries of MI5, and Lottie's home fills with actors doubling as spies, Lottie begins to feel well and truly spooked. This hilarious memoir from the bestselling author of Coronet Among the Weeds is a window into 1950s Britain: a country where Russian agents infiltrate the highest echelons, where debutantes are typists and where Englishness is both a nationality and a code of behaviour. Discretion, honour and office politics meet secrecy, suspicion and film stars in this enchanting, extraordinary true story.

A Coronet Among the Spooks

MI5 and Me

It is the summer of 1939, the residents of the Sussex fishing port of Bexham are preparing for war. Judy Melton, Meggie Gore-Stewart, Mathilda Eastcott, and Corrie Hogarth are determined to play an active part in the defence of their country. However, it is not just the young women who are determined to find new roles, so are their mothers.

The Chestnut Tree

"Daughters of Eden" focuses on the lives and fortunes of four very different young women, Marjorie, Poppy, Kate and Lily, at the outbreak of the Second World War

Daughters of Eden

Keston Hall, Buckinghamshire, is the seat of the Lydiard family and the imposing setting for a compelling love story that begins in 1907. Beautiful and spirited, Grace Merrill seems to stand with the world at her feet. But then, quite unexpectedly, a family tragedy obliges Grace to abandon her artistic talents and enter a life in service at the Hall. In this Upstairs Downstairs world of sadistic housekeepers and drunken butlers there is genuine hardship and drudgery for those employed in servicing the few. But Grace soon discovers that she has another talent when, through the merest chance, she manages to escape from the kitchen to the nursery floor. Here she learns to love Lady Lydiard's children as her own. Here, too, she learns her first lesson as a woman, that passion and sacrifice make awkward bedfellows. But if the love of her life, Brake Merrowby, brings her more sorrow than joy, her love for the children more than compensates for her enforced isolation in their world of muffins and rocking horses. As change reaches out to touch the great house, the realities of war leave their mark on the family. Yet for the children, grown and growing, when they stop to look back at the top-floor window they see only their nanny. Almost as if part of the fabric of the building, Grace grows to become not just the touchstone of their lives but in essence the mistress of the house itself.

Nanny

The House of Flowers

A century ago, marriage, and marriage alone, offered a nicely brought-up girl escape from the domination of her parents. Indeed it was the only path to freedom. That path led her to a Season in London and, the ultimate goal, Coming Out as a debutante. But along the way she had to survive a terrifying few months, a make-or-break time in which her family's hopes for her could only be fulfilled through a proposal of marriage. For Lady Emily Persse, Coming Out means leaving her beloved Ireland and its informalities for England and its stricter codes. For Portia Tradescant, released from the boredom of life in the English countryside, it means trying to get through the Season despite the best efforts of her eccentric Aunt Tattie. For beautiful May Danby, the Season is an entrée to a whole other life, worlds away from her strict convent upbringing in Yorkshire. Debutantes, Charlotte Bingham's delightful and stylish new saga, centres around a single London Season in the 1890s. But it is not just about the debutantes themselves. It is as much about the women who launch them, and the Society which supports their way of life. It is also about the battle for power, privilege and money, fought, not in the male tradition upon the battlefield, but in the female tradition...in the ballroom.

Debutantes

As children, George Dashwood and Amelia Dennison loved to roam the Sussex Downs and, just as their two very different families were friends, so too were they, until they got caught in a thunderstorm. Sheltering from the elements, the now mature George realizes that the way he feels about Amelia has changed.But it is 1914 and the declaration of war cuts across any romantic plans that the two might have.Award-winning novelist Charlotte Bingham has entertained readers with an array of engrossing bestsellers. In this, her most dazzling novel yet, she presents a gloriously romantic story of love lost and found that once more demonstrates her unique storytelling ability.

The Kissing Garden

In wartime, nothing stays the same...Fans of Louise Douglas, Dinah Jeffries and Kristin Hannah will love this captivating and compelling read from bestselling author Charlotte Bingham. The perfect dose of escapism! WHAT READERS ARE SAYING 'Had me smiling and crying in equal measure' -- ***** Reader review 'I couldn't put it down' -- ***** Reader review 'Absolutely riveting' -- ***** Reader review 'Truly impossible to put down' -- ***** Reader review *************************************************************************** WAR CONSUMES ALL BUT FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE... Twistleton is a village untouched by time, taking its rhythms from the countryside around. Daisy, Jean, Freddie and their friends Aurelia and Laura are devoted to the place, so that when war breaks out Twistleton becomes the embodiment of everything for which they are fighting. For the previous generation the new conflict causes private despair, increased when Twistleton is requisitioned by the Army. Turfed out of their houses, the villagers take refuge at the Hall. It is here that evacuees from the East End, butler and countryman weld together to fight common enemies, whether drunken troops in the village, the bombs from the air, or rationing and the bitter weather. They all know only victory will do. With death haunting their every moment, love is their one all-too-fleeting consolation - and also their final triumph.

a heart-warming and gripping novel set during WW2 from bestselling novelist Charlotte Bingham

The Daisy Club

Fans of Louise Douglas, Dinah Jeffries and Kristin Hannah will love this compelling and enthralling read from bestselling author Charlotte Bingham. The 1950s are brought vividly to life - as is the real battle between desire and duty that Ottilie faces. A real page-turner! 'The author perfectly evokes the atmosphere of a bygone era... ' -- Woman's Own 'This is great summer escapism from an award-winning romantic novelist' -- CHOICE 'I couldn't put it down' -- ***** Reader review 'Absolutely riveting' -- ***** Reader review 'A wonderful read' -- ***** Reader review ******************************************************************************* SOME THINGS NEED SAVING...BUT AT WHAT COST? Ottilie Cartaret is born in London into a family of boys dominated by their genial mother, Ma O'Flaherty. For the first four years of her life, all Ottilie knows is love until, that is, the erring father of the boys, sends enough money from America for the O'Flahertys to move to what Ma imagines will be rural bliss in Cornwall. True, St Elcomb is by the sea and in 1950s Britain is certainly rural but, for the O'Flahertys, it is not bliss. Never mind their poverty - the enmity of the local people is what proves insuperable. Ottilie is ultimately adopted by Mr and Mrs Cartaret, a wealthy couple who run the Grand Hotel in St Elcomb. Here she becomes pampered and spoilt, not just by her adopted parents but by all the visitors to the hotel. Times however are changing and not just for Ottilie but for the hotel too, and as the regulars to the now decaying hotel die off, the Cartarets find they are unable to adapt to modern ways. There is no doubt that Ottilie is their greatest asset and they live to rejoice in the day they adopted but is Ottilie perhaps expected to sacrifice too much herself to save the Grand?

the captivating story of one young woman's struggle to overcome the obstacles of her past, and face the future...

Grand Affair

When Alexandra Stamford goes to stay with her Millington cousins at Knighton Hall she knows nothing about the handsome stable lad they have cruelly nicknamed 'the olk, nor is she destined to meet him until he is rich and successful. If Tom O'Brien is a servant, Alexandra herself is very much the poor relation, while the daughters of the house have beauty, status and wealth. Shortly after Alexandra's return home, her father re-marries. No longer wanted, Alexandra is forced to become a mald-of-all-work for a Mrs Smithers who lives in a grand Regency house in the seaside town of Deanford. Here she rapidly makes her mark among the impoverished ladies of the town, arranging romantic luncheons where they can meet wealthy widowers in comfort. It is through one of these occasions that handsome, funny Bob Atkins meets and falls in love with Alexandra. Despite her commitment to Bob, Alexandra is determined to make a success of her new life. Meanwhile Tom O'Brien meets and falls for the beautiful Lady Florazel Compton who introduces him to the sophistications of 1950s London. in doing so discovers the awful circumstances of her birth. Tragedy strikes, and it is only when Tom returns from New York to search out his old friend Bob Atkins' fiancee that Alexandra's life appears about to be truly transformed. But the past seems destined to wreck the happiness of the present, as the glamorous Lady Florazel Compton is determined to re-capture her former love, destroying the magic hour of Tom's and Alexandra's meeting.

Magic Hour

Exciting and dramatic but tender and heartfelt; this is a novel that you will return to again and again. From the million copy and Sunday Times bestselling author Charlotte Bingham, for fans of Louise Douglas and Dinah Jeffries. 'An engaging, romantic and nostalgic read' -- DAILY MAIL 'Compulsive reading... Bingham's prose is lively and vivid, making this a real page turner' -- GOOD BOOK GUIDE "These are characters you will really care about" -- ***** Reader review "Very enjoyable and hard to put down" -- ***** Reader review "Incredibly well written and engrossing" -- ***** Reader review ************************************************************************** TWO PATHS, ONE DESTINATION... When Alexandra Stamford goes to stay with her cousins at Knighton Hall she is very much the poor relation. Shortly after her return home, her father re-marries. No longer wanted, Alexandra is forced to become a maid-of-all-work for a Mrs Smithers who lives in a grand Regency house in the seaside town of Deanford. It is here that handsome, funny Bob Atkins meets and falls in love with Alexandra... Meanwhile Tom O'Brien, erstwhile stable lad at Knighton Hall, meets and falls for the beautiful Lady Florazel Compton who introduces him to the sophistications of 1950s London. As Bob is conscripted for National Service, Alexandra plans her future, and in doing so discovers family secrets that have a devastating impact. Tragedy strikes, and it is only when Tom returns from New York to search out his old friend Bob Atkins' fiancée that Alexandra's life appears about to be truly transformed. But the past seems destined to wreck the happiness of the present, as the glamorous Lady Florazel Compton is determined to re-capture her former love, destroying the magic hour of Tom's and Alexandra's meeting.

an uplifting and moving tale of serendipity and fate from bestselling author Charlotte Bingham

The Magic Hour

The Land of Summer

By bestselling British writer Charlotte Bingham, The Chestnut Tree is a sweeping, romantic novel about the women who stayed behind in World War II. It is the summer of 1939, and the residents of the idyllic Sussex fishing port of Bexham are preparing for war. Beautiful but shy Judy Melton, daughter of a naval hero; her determinedly feckless friend, the social butterfly Meggie Gore-Steward; seemingly demure Mathilda Eastcott, and Rusty Sykes, the tomboy daughter of the owner of the local boatyard, are all in their very individual ways determined to play an active part in the defense of their country. But knitting socks and bomb-dodging are not what they have in mind. Under the tree on the green the women of Bexham meet to look back on a landscape that has changed irrevocably, and which they have in their own ways helped to alter. None of them are the same, and yet, with the men returning from war, they are expected to slip back into their simple roles of mother, daughter, grandmother. This, more than anything perhaps, is their greatest sacrifice. Only the chestnut tree planted by Corrie at the edge of the village flourishes in the accepted manner, finally becoming the uniting symbol of all that has passed forever.

A Novel of the Women of World War II

Exciting and dramatic but tender and heartfelt; this is a novel that you will return to again and again. From the million copy and Sunday Times bestselling author Charlotte Bingham, for fans of Louise Douglas and Dinah Jeffries. 'A novel rich in dramatic surprises... will have you frantically turning the pages.' - DAILY MAIL 'One of Britain's most bankable novelists.' - THE DAILY EXPRESS 'I laughed and cried at this tale, could visualise the characters, scenery and the story' - ***** Reader Review 'Great book, grabs you on the first page' - ***** Reader Review ******************************************************************** A WARTIME BETRAYAL STRAIGHT TO THE HEART As Walter Berrisford paints beautiful Katherine Garland, she asks him to put a ladybird on her finger without his knowing why. He is appalled when he discovers that Katherine is a Nazi. The outbreak of war means that everyone must contribute to the war effort: her sister Caro and her friend Robyn join the FANYs, while former maids, Betty and Trixie, work in a factory. War brings frantic romance to all, including their flatmate Edwina O'Brien, but it is Betty, transferred to decode at Bletchley Park who discovers the truth about the Ladybird...

a romantic wartime novel encompassing both love and tragedy from bestselling author Charlotte Bingham

Goodnight Sweetheart

Powerful and heart-wrenching; fans of Louise Douglas, Dinah Jeffries and Kristin Hannah will love this Edwardian saga by the million copy and Sunday Times bestselling author Charlotte Bingham. "Charlotte Bingham's spellbinding novel is required reading" - COSMOPOLITAN "Excellent stuff" -- COMPANY "What a wonderful book-- I am feeling totally wrung out with emotion and I didn't want it to ever end." -- ***** Reader review "Such an enchanting story...Nanny is a rich and memorable character you will carry in your memory once you finish the last page." -- ***** Reader review "I have read most of Charlotte Bingham books and am never disappointed." -- ***** Reader review ******************************************************************************* FROM MASTERLESS TO MISTRESS OF THE HOUSE. BUT CAN IT LAST? 1907: Beautiful and spirited, Grace Merrill seems to stand with the world at her feet until a family tragedy obliges Grace to enter a life in service at Keston Hall. It is a world of sadistic housekeepers, drunken butlers and genuine hardship and drudgery for those employed in servicing the few. However, she soon discovers that she has another talent when she manages to escape from the kitchen to work as the family nanny. Here she learns to love Lady Lydiard's children as her own and revel in the isolated world of the nursery. As time passes, war looms and change reaches out to touch the Hall, Grace grows to become not just the touchstone of the children's lives but in essence the mistress of the house itself. Amidst all this, she has met the love of her life: Brake Merrowby. But is he the right man to give her the personal fulfilment she craves?

a masterful depiction of one woman's determination, passion and sacrifice as told by bestselling author Charlotte Bingham

Rosamunde Pilcher

Terence Brady

This is the story of Penelope Keeling and her family and the passion and heartbreak that have held them together for three generations. The location of the play moves between time and place beginning with Penelope's return to her Cotswold home from hospital in the present day. The story continues through the advent of three children and Penelope's desertion by her husband, with the pull of Cornwall ever present.

A Play

The Shell Seekers

Daughters of Eden focuses on the lives and fortunes of four very different young women at the outbreak of the Second World War. Marjorie, left at a boarding school by her emigrating mother; plain Poppy, pushed into marriage with a mean-spirited aristocrat; Kate, despised by her father, but determined to prove herself; and man-mad Lily, who turns out to be the bravest of them all. That all of them are chosen to work undercover for the espionage unit at a beautiful stately home is a surprise, not least to them. At Eden Park they not only meet each other, but become involved with three unusual young men - Eugene, the seemingly feckless Irishman; Robert, Kate's brother; and dashing Scott, a master of disguise, and the undisputed favourite of the unit. While there is hardly time for romance before each is sent out into the field, there is just enough for passionate new relationships to form. Only Jack Ward, the mysterious spymaster, manages to remain aloof as he guides their destinies. The fact that they will look back on this time as having made them feel more exquisitely alive than ever before is not something they will know until much later.

A Paixão de Emma

Let million copy and Sunday Times bestselling author Charlotte Bingham sweep you away with this sparkling, moving and emotionally charged novel of the complexities of female friendship. If you like Louise Douglas, Dinah Jeffries and Kristin Hannah, you will love this! "Superbly written...A big, fat, cheering up that brings the magic of childhood reading back to life in an adult world" - DAILY MAIL "Smashing" - Prima "Will satisfy all Bingham's fans" - SUNDAY TIMES "Outstanding" -- ***** Reader review "Another excellent read by Charlotte Bingham" -- ***** Reader review *********************************************************************************** EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENTS CAN HAVE LASTING CONSEQUENCES... Brougham is the stateliest of stately homes, but for Lady Artemis Deverill it proves a lonely, loveless place. Eleanor Milligan, born in downtown Boston, knows only poverty and a continuing battle against bullying brothers and a sadistic father. From the moment Artemis and Ellie meet on a liner sailing to Ireland, they are destined to become friends. And when Eleanor's Cousin Rose asks not only Eleanor but also Artemis to stay on at Strand House, County Cork, it marks the start of what is for both of them an idyllic time. But with the arrival of the devastatingly handsome artist, Hugo Tanner, it seems as though nothing will be quite the same. For in the sunlit pre-war summer, all three become emotionally entwined, with startling consequences that threaten to haunt them for the rest of their lives...

Charlotte Bingham

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