I recently met a man well-versed in the island’s history, so naturally, we got onto the topic of the 80th anniversary of the Liberation. I mentioned that, for me, the best part of the commemoration is the bank holiday – this year falling on a Friday, making for a three-day weekend of socialising. He replied that many people feel this way
because the Occupation is now so distant that few actually remember it. Most of those who directly experienced it were children at the time, and only those aged 98 or older would have lived through it as late teens or young adults.
It’s difficult to be passionate about something you don’t truly resonate with. While research is a great way to build empathy, many find it laborious and dull. It’s much easier to absorb knowledge through a documentary or historical drama – something engaging, digestible, and not too time-consuming. However, unless you commit to squinting at a phone screen for hours, you can’t watch a story unfold while literally sitting in a scene where it’s set. With a book, you can. With Liberation Day in mind, I got in touch with Rachael Dymtri, author of The Women of Jersey Island.
Set in 1940, Rachael’s novel is a work of historical fiction based in Jersey during the Occupation. It follows three women and their interwoven secrets: Violet, an uptight mother with a lifelong secret; Louisa, her strong and bubbly best friend; and Marcy, Violet’s sensitive daughter. Marcy has been in love with Louisa’s son, Eugene, since childhood, so when he suddenly disappears, she is driven to join the resistance with Louisa – without telling her mother.
While Marcy and Violet are entirely fictional, Louisa is loosely inspired by the Jersey heroine Louisa Gould. A shopkeeper in St. Ouen and the mother of two sons who enlisted in the British Armed Forces, she defied the Nazis during the Occupation by sheltering a Russian soldier forced to build German fortifications around the island. When warned of the possible consequences, Louisa famously said, “I have to do something for another mother’s son.”
The Women of Jersey Island will appeal to readers who enjoy authors like Kristin Hannah and Jina Bacarr. It’s also an accessible read for those looking to familiarise themselves with this period in Jersey’s history. If you’re planning a Sunday reset over the upcoming bank holiday weekend, consider taking a copy of Rachael’s novel to one of the beautiful locations that inspired its scenes. Eyes right for her top five recommended spots – featured in the plot and perfect for reading.
Plemont Bay
“Plemont Bay, Jersey, is where the dramatic opening scene of The Women of Jersey Island takes place. The first time I visited in 2018, I was completely undone by the dramatic scenery and the stunning cliffs. When it is high tide, the beach is completely covered. At low tide, the steep slippery stairs, the wet sand that never fully dries, and the plentiful hidden coves just make it feel like the type of place Captain Flint could have landed. The view from the cliffs above is incredible too – just don’t get too close to the edge!!”
Greve de Lecq
“This is the beautiful, sheltered beach where Violet is supposed to have gone in the opening scene. It’s where many scenes in the book take place. Every time I return to this beach, I am overwhelmed by both its beauty and its comfort. There is a great cafe to enjoy a cup of tea and The Women of Jersey Island.”
Sorel Point
“When I first began writing the book, I imagined Louisa’s house being near here, built like a strong, weathered lady who has faced many elements but came out standing. Though I moved her house in later revisions, I enjoyed the footpath from Sorel Point to Devil’s Hole, and walked there more than once as I mapped out Louisa’s character.
The house itself, which becomes a kind of character in the novel, was inspired by the home of my cousin Jean, who lives on the island. I first stayed at Jean’s house when I was 14. I had this feeling, right from the start, that the house was special. It was of course old, full of history, but also love and happiness, with a long stream of windows in the conservatory. I wanted to draw inspiration from a house that had its own story, and Jean’s house is just that.”
Liberation Square
“It’s hard to miss Liberation Square, in the thick of so much activity in St. Helier. I spent one very rainy Liberation Day in that square with my Granny, watching a reenactment of the Union Jack being restored to the Pomme d’Or Hotel until, drenched to the bone, we took off in search of a coffee. It’s wonderful to stand there and think about how emotional it must have felt to have the Pomme d’Or taken back, to know the war was truly over.”
La Roque
“I have a lovely memory, from when I was five or six years old, of being at the beach in La Rocque with my grandad. I remember the way we searched for crabs in tidal pools and raced to the sea for buckets of water. Those memories: of mushy sand and finding shells, of the water’s edge feeling miles away at low tide, of being a child without a care in the world, were the emotions I wanted this book to evoke. Additionally, La Rocque was one of the locations that was bombed during the Nazi invasion.”
