The
Way To London
by Alix Rickloff is very much a relationship story with the
backdrop of World War II. Instead of having the military aspect
the author concentrates on how the civilian population endured
the war. It is the flip-flop Cinderella story about a rich
girl and poor boy.
The book starts out in Singapore in 1941, just three months
before Pearl Harbor, where the population is still free of
any concerns. Lucy Stanhope, the granddaughter of an earl,
is living a life of pampered luxury in Singapore until one
reckless act will change her life forever. Exiled to England
to stay with an aunt she barely remembers she sees the devastation
first-hand as the Nazis blitzkrieg London. Her companion,
Bill, a twelve-year-old boy, journeys with her as both escape
the English countryside heading for the city. She hopes to
meet up with a Hollywood producer as she seeks fame and fortune,
while at the same time helping Bill to find his mother. In
the course of their journey they encounter a soldier, Michael,
whom Lucy originally met in Singapore, He takes on the responsibility
of getting Lucy and Bill safely to London.
What stands out in this story is the stark difference between
the social classes. The have-nots are unable to enjoy a normal
meal and cannot escape the ravages of war. On the other side
are the haves that are able through their privilege and money
to still experience some comforts. A powerful quote hammers
the point home, “I suppose I felt almost criminal eating
in one meal enough ration points to serve a family of four
for a month…You know just this afternoon, I was watching
them pull bodies out of a collapsed building. Now, hours later,
I’m in a world of caviar and cocktails.”
But the author also makes the point that regardless of class
the English people had a determination and grit to defeat
the Germans. Whether it is sending their children off to the
countryside to live with total strangers, or to endure the
constant bombing, while trying to live as normal a life as
possible, readers understand why this was called the “Greatest
Generation.”
She noted, “They had a quiet resolve with an all-out
effort to win the war. I am not sure this could ever be replicated.
Everybody felt honor bound to do their part and pull their
weight and make the necessary sacrifices. WWII is the catalyst
that sets all three characters on their respective journeys.
I wanted to explore how they had to get through the everyday
indignities of war, what the citizens had to go through. Despite
all the violence and sorrow, what gave them the ability to
cope?”
Yet, Lucy is not seen as part of that group until the middle
of the book. In the beginning she is a self-indulgent young
woman desperate for attention, a spoiled brat who is an outsider
always looking in. But as the story unfolds she grows and
becomes a caring and responsible person.
The Way To London is a journey taken by Lucy to find
her way and place in the world. Bill and Michael show her
that there is more to life than being a prickly uncaring individual,
and help her along the way. Through them she finds her happily
ever after.
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