Henrietta Sees It Through

More News from the Home Front 1942-1945

By: Joyce Dennys

Narrated by: Kimberley Datnow

Length: 5 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

World War II is now in its third year and although nothing can dent the unwavering patriotism of Henrietta and her friends, everyone in the Devonshire village has their anxious moments. Henrietta takes up weeding and plays the triangle in the local orchestra to take her mind off things; the indomitable Lady B, now in her late 70s, partakes in endless fund-raising events to distract herself from thoughts of life without elastic; and Faith, the village flirt, finds herself in the charming company of American GIs. With the war nearing its end, hope seems to lie just around the corner, and as this spirited community muddles through, Lady B vows to make their friendships outlast the hardship that brought them together.

Joyce Dennys was born, in 1893, in India. The Dennys family relocated to England in 1896. Dennys enjoyed drawing lessons throughout her schooling and later enrolled at Exeter Art School. As she got older, her drawing took a backseat to the domestic and social duties of a mother and doctor's wife and she became increasingly frustrated. She voiced her frustrations through the character of Henrietta, a heroine she created for an article for Sketch. These writings were later compiled to form Henrietta's War, first published in 1985.

©1986 Joyce Dennys (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

One of my favorite books - but it's book 2 of 2!

This is a wonderful epistolary tale, about the home front during WW 2 in England's West Country. Henrietta is a doctor's wife, with a grown son and daughter both doing their bit for the war. Lady B is a great sympathetic character and Faith finally settles down.

Book One, Henrietta's War, is unfortunately not available (yet) on Audible; that's where you meet the characters and get the setting for the books. I have read both books, but I think that someone coming fresh to the series might miss a bit, having only book 2 available.

The reader does a very good job of presenting Henrietta's voice to us - I liked her cheerful sign off to each letter (your childhood's friend, Henrietta).

Wonderful story, but not voiced well at all

I have read the two Henrietta books many times, but only just listened to them on Audible, even though I bought the books in 2013. The first is beautifully narrated, but this one is appalling. The narrator places bizarre emphasis on syllables that is completely inappropriate. She handles male voices in a dreadfully fake and very loud way. She sounds like a child when speaking for Henrietta. It completely ruins the really quite wonderful story.

The first small volume, Henrietta's War, is beautifully narrated by another reader.

A diary in the shape of letters written to a friend in the front

Clear language, amazing characterization. The people are so real that I am sure to recognize them if I met them, please look at the illustrations done by the author.
I fell in love with Henrietta, with Lady B, what an elegant name to this lovable lady. Charles is just the doctor one hopes to have and Faith and her conductor, you just have to meet them.
And through it all The War threads itself into the people’s life and I find myself crying over the terrible death of young and magnificent sons of brave parents and getting annoyed at petty meanness in other characters, laughing with Henrietta at their oddities. A unique book.