Women and War

In this vigorous, hefty novel, the romantic history of two young Australian women is intertwined with World War II and the aftermath of the Japanese attack on their homeland. For Tara Kelly, an Irish immigrant raised in the slums of Sydney, as for Alys Peterson, gently reared daughter of a leading family in the English community of Melbourne, the war provides opportunity to escape unsatisfactory lives at home. Tara, the sensuous kept woman of a powerful crime figure, and Alys, the emotional prisoner of her stroke-impaired mother, become actively involved in the war effort: Tara, first as a hospital aide, then as an entertainer; Alys as a skilled vehicle operator. What brings them into each other's orbit is their love for the same man, a well-born Army doctor. Opportunistic Tara seduces him into marriage, which from the beginning shows signs of foundering because of his attraction to the more suitable Alys. The resolution of the triangle leaves Tara not bereft of lovers but once more adrift pursuing dreams of a career that may justify her origins. Tanner (The Emerald Valley) crafts a compelling love story that reflects enduring social divisions and dichotomized lifestyles on the great island continent. (March)