A novelized book about a real event that took place during the Second World War (1939–1945): in London, Clara Button created an underground library in a metro station under construction. It was also a shelter for sleeping, a nursery, a cafeteria, and even had a theater that offered escape, distraction, and a sense of calm and enjoyment in the face of the constant bombs outside.
She also ensured that the library was not only a safe place but also one of hope: she organized literary gatherings, storytelling sessions for children, games, etc. Likewise, she was concerned about the mistreatment of women and saw as the only possible solution for them to flee to the countryside with their children; she recommended books that explained birth control.
The characters are well portrayed, with stories that intertwine and captivate the reader. The narrative is dynamic and includes romantic aspects. It is an easy-to-read novel that highlights female protagonism, since most men were mobilized, which made evident the equality between men and women. A morality based more on circumstances than on conviction can be observed.
Perhaps, as the story has been reworked today, it reflects the disconnection between the good sentiments typical of Western civilization and the personal ethics and transcendence that inspired it, and which seventy-five years ago were not so radically absent.
Kate Thompson is an English journalist and novelist. She worked for five years in national newspapers and in the leading women’s magazines in the United Kingdom. She also writes novels.