Widowland

A Novel

By: C. J. Carey

Narrated by: Esther Wane

An alternative history with a strong feminist twist, perfect for fans of Robert Harris’s Fatherland, Christina Dalcher’s Vox, and the dystopian novels of Margaret Atwood

To control the past, they edited history. To control the future, they edited literature.

London, 1953, Coronation year—but not the Coronation of Elizabeth II.

Thirteen years have passed since a Grand Alliance between Great Britain and Germany was formalized. George VI and his family have been murdered, and Edward VIII rules as King. Yet, in practice, all power is vested in Alfred Rosenberg, Britain’s Protector. The role and status of women is Rosenberg’s particular interest.

Rose Ransom belongs to the elite caste of women and works at the Ministry of Culture, rewriting literature to correct the views of the past. But now she has been given a special task.

Outbreaks of insurgency have been seen across the country: graffiti daubed on public buildings. Disturbingly, the graffiti is made up of lines from forbidden works, subversive words from the voices of women. Suspicion has fallen on Widowland, the run-down slums where childless women over fifty have been banished. These women are known to be mutinous, for they have nothing to lose.

Before the Leader arrives for the Coronation ceremony of King Edward and Queen Wallis, Rose must infiltrate Widowland, find the source of this rebellion, and ensure that it is quashed.

©2021, 2022 Thynker Ltd. (P)2022 Blackstone Publishing

Dystopic alternate history post WWII

C J Carey’s Widowland is an alternate history set in the 1950’s with England having surrendered to Germany with a resulting Nazi occupation. The Nazis have established a caste system which is especial-ly difficult for women. Childless women past childbearing age are the lowest caste forced to live in poor conditions termed ‘widowland,’ The main character is a young woman of the highest caste who works for the Germans, rewriting existing novels to reflect the current caste system. She is also tasked with intelligence gathering in widowland to ferret out sources anti-government propaganda which al-ters her perspectives.

Carey offers a richly detailed dystopic scenario of Nazis occupying all of Europe. The main character slowly transitions from a naïve, innocent young adult trying to survive a new world order into someone with an understanding of their situation and gaining agency over their own life.

The narration is good with decent character distinction. Pacing is a tad slow.

alternate reality

The author continues re trend of historical fiction with a German/English mix. In this tale, the Germans didn't lose WWII, rather they took over Europe, it's 1953 and they Britian with an iron fist, in fact all of Europe. The leader', yes, Hitler is still in charge, he's coming to the coronation of Edward and Willis and there is a plot to assassinate him during his visit. The protagonist is a 29-year-old girl who is the mistress of a senior German minister, not of her own choosing and she is starting to feel pangs that all is not right in her world and slowly progresses to where she gets involved with the plot.

Very imaginative story and I've enjoyed all of her books as well as her late husband, all German historical fiction centered around WWII and just after the war.

So realistic!!

Great storyline and tied well to history. This could have easily happened had Edward not abdicated….scary.

Good idea, but lacks cohesion

Enjoyed this, but the author failed to achieve the connective tissue sufficient to pull off a realistic what-could-have-been story.