BooksBarbecue
Back When We Meet Again Save as PDF
Chapters (57)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Epigraph
  4. Prologue
  5. One
  6. Two
  7. Three
  8. Four
  9. Five
  10. Six
  11. Seven
  12. Eight
  13. Nine
  14. Ten
  15. Eleven
  16. Twelve
  17. Thirteen
  18. Fourteen
  19. Fifteen
  20. Sixteen
  21. Seventeen
  22. Eighteen
  23. Nineteen
  24. Twenty
  25. Twenty-one
  26. Twenty-two
  27. Twenty-three
  28. Twenty-four
  29. Twenty-five
  30. Twenty-six
  31. Twenty-seven
  32. Twenty-eight
  33. Twenty-nine
  34. Thirty
  35. Thirty-one
  36. Thirty-two
  37. Thirty-three
  38. Thirty-four
  39. Thirty-five
  40. Thirty-six
  41. Thirty-seven
  42. Thirty-eight
  43. Thirty-nine
  44. Forty
  45. Forty-one
  46. Forty-two
  47. Forty-three
  48. Forty-four
  49. Forty-five
  50. AUTHOR’S NOTE
  51. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  52. POPULAR BOOKS FROM THE ERA
  53. When We Meet Again
  54. A Conversation with Caroline Beecham about When We Meet Again
  55. Discussion Guide
  56. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  57. What’s next onyour reading list?

I hope readers find these stories entertaining and that they shed new light on this well-documented era and give a different perspective. It was such a fascinating period of social change when women had to suddenly take on roles that had previously been in the male domain and this was cause for celebration and upheaval, especially when the men came back from war and wanted their jobs back! There are so many interesting stories about life on the home front, and it’s inspiring finding out about these pioneering women. There seems to be a new wave of women writers who are putting women at the center of these wartime stories and giving them the action and adventure that men previously had; it’s probably because these stories have been hidden for so long that they are coming to the surface now.

What’s next for you?

I’m working on a new novel inspired by the real life of a British woman who helped rescue thousands of Jewish refugees from Europe in the 1930s and ’40s. There are some fascinating stories about the diaspora and the amazing legacy she helped create. It’s an exciting novel to research and write, but it’s also a very different way of working; I usually come across an untold history and create fictional characters to weave the history around. Creating a story inspired by a real character does come with the additional pressure of remaining true to their spirit while also creating an engaging character, and, of course, plenty of drama and romance. This is a challenge, but I feel that she sacrificed so much of her personal life to help others that it’s a great opportunity to give her something back and create the love life she never had. I just hope I do her fighting spirit and incredible legacy the justice it deserves.

Discussion Guide

1. Alice shows fierce bravery in her search for her child, overcoming physical and emotional obstacles, pain and discomfort and showing courage in facing the dangerous baby farmers and venturing into unfamiliar places. Where does Alice find her strength? How far would you go to rescue someone you love?

2. How does the wartime setting impact the events of the novel? Discuss the ways that war affected different areas of life in London during this time.

3. Compare and contrast the relationships between mothers and daughters in the novel, looking specifically at the connection between Alice and Eadie and that of Alice and Ruth. In what ways is Alice’s parenting style similar to or different from her own mother’s?

4. At the heart of When We Meet Again is the idea that books can change lives. Has a book ever changed your life? If so, what was it? Why did it have such an impact? Why do you think that books were particularly important during wartime?