Mrs Boots
Page 28
In the mood for even more bewitching historical fiction?
You will adore The Orphan Thief by Glynis Peters, the beautiful story of a young woman and a street urchin orphaned during the Coventry Blitz.
Similarly enthralling, All We Could Not Leave Behind by Danielle R. Graham weaves a spellbinding saga of love and sacrifice around the Japanese-Canadian community of WWII Mayne Island.
You will also love The Last Letter From Juliet by Melanie Hudson, a moving and powerful novel about a daring WWII pilot who dreams of a lost love on the eve of her 100th birthday in Cornwall.
And why not try The Secret Messenger by Mandy Robotham, a sweeping tale of the courage of everyday women in German-occupied 1940s Venice.
Author Note
Florence Boot (née Rowe) is a woman who has fascinated me for many years. Naturally I’d heard of Boots the Chemist, I often shop at one of four local stores here in Jersey. I now know that within the large shop I visit in Queens Street, St Helier, lies the original stationers owned by Florence’s father William Rowe at number 27, where she worked as a shop assistant in the 1880s and where she, her sister, Amy, and parents were living above the shop when she met Jesse Boot.
I was stunned to discover St Matthew’s church at Millbrook, known locally as The Glass Church, with its Lalique crystal windows, christening font, exquisite three metres tall cross covered with Jersey lilies, and other features, was commissioned by Florence. She lived across the road for many years and paid for the renovation of the church and commissioned unique pieces from her friend Réne Lalique in the early thirties in memory of her beloved husband, Jesse Boot, then 1st Baron Trent, who died in 1931. She also created Coronation Park, a beautiful park with a large pavilion facing the sea and a pond for children to paddle in and sail their boats, situated right next to St Matthew’s church.
These are just two places on the island that Florence is responsible for creating. Most school children still enjoy their sports days at FB Playing Fields, there are workers’ cottages, maisonettes and even the bay of Beauport, once bought by Jesse for Florence, was gifted to the island. We are very lucky here to have such a generous benefactor and if you come to the island on holiday you can also visit these places. Florence and Jesse lived most of their married life in Nottingham, where Jesse had been born and where his empire began, but Florence never forgot her roots on the island of Jersey, or its people.
When Charlotte Ledger, Editorial Director at HarperCollins and One More Chapter thought of writing about Florence Boot, she discovered that Florence was from Jersey. I had just finished working on The Poppy Field, a novel to commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War, and was delighted when Charlotte thought of me to write Mrs Boots. It was a joy to spend time delving into Florence’s life, from her younger years working as a shop assistant in Jersey, to becoming the philanthropic wife of a baron, who, despite being the mother of three children, still insisted on continuing to work when women of her means did not do so.
Florence was so much more than I had realised. She cared deeply about her staff and the lives of the women who worked for her, and saw to it that they had both nutritional and educational support believing that it helped her ‘Dear Girls’ to achieve more in their lives. From the creation of the Boots Lending Libraries to the inclusion of cafés in the shops, Florence’s foresight and care for others was inspirational and far-reaching. There is so much more about Florence that I want to share with you, but maybe those stories will have to wait for another time.
I am doubly lucky not only to have been asked to write this novel based on such a strong, inspirational woman, but also to live on an island where her legacy is enjoyed daily by so many people.
Acknowledgements
I’d like to thank the following people who have helped in some way to the research/writing of Mrs Boots:
First, I’d like to thank Charlotte Ledger, another inspirational woman and Editorial Director at HarperCollins/One More Chapter. I’m massively grateful for Charlotte’s confidence in me and for giving me this opportunity to research and write about Florence Boot, a Jersey woman who has long held my interest.
Mrs Boots would not be the book it is without the support and suggestions of my brilliant editor, Emily Ruston. This is a far better book thanks to her input.
Also, I’d like to thank Donna Hillyer for her thorough copy-edits.
My agent Kate Nash has been a huge support, not just as my agent, but for the information she discovered about Florence and Jesse Boot and sent on to me.
Alison Barrington, Florence and Jesse Boot’s great-granddaughter, who, together with her daughter, Heidi Lewis and granddaughter, Lara Lewis kindly met up with me, showed me personal photos of her grandparents and shared private family anecdotes that helped me visualise Florence and Jesse’s life together.
Sophie Clapp and Judith Wright, Boots Archivists in Nottingham for the wonderful welcome they gave to me and Claire Fenby when we visited them and I was given access to a treasure trove of documents, including letters written by Florence, personal photos and other exquisite items that helped me to truly discover the breadth of Florence Boot’s generosity and care for her staff, especially her ‘Dear Girls’.
Claire Fenby, Digital Marketing and Publicity Assistant at One More Chapter for accompanying me to the Boots Archive and helping make the day so memorable.
Michele Leerson at Jersey Archive for connecting me to Alison Barrington and her family, and for meeting with me and giving me fascinating information about Florence. Also, Toni Wolstenholme, Linda Romeril and Stuart Nicolle from the Jersey Archive for their assistance with my research.
Nigel Sweeny, for the loan of his book on The Jersey Eastern Railway by Peter Paye, and further information on Grouville Station that was very useful when writing outings for Florence and Jesse.
The Jerripedia website, a wealth of information and a useful source that helped me visualise life in 1880s Jersey.
My large family for allowing me to share my excitement about discoveries I had made about Florence, Jesse and their intriguing life, and who all kept this project a secret when I asked them to.
My supportive husband, Rob and my son, James, who, if they tire of hearing about my writing and grumbling when a writing day hasn’t gone as well as I’d hoped, don’t ever show it.
My daughter Saskia, another woman who is strong, kind and determined to help others, and of whom I’m very proud.
Finally, to you, the reader. Thank you for choosing to read Mrs Boots. I hope you enjoy getting to know Florence and Jesse as much as I did.
Also by Deborah Carr
Broken Faces
The Poppy Field
About the Author
Deborah Carr lives on the island of Jersey in the Channel Islands with her husband, two children and three rescue dogs. She became interested in books set in WW1 when researching her grandfather’s time as a cavalryman in the 17th 21st Lancers.
She is part of ‘The Blonde Plotters’ writing group and was Deputy Editor on the online review site, Novelicious.com. Her debut historical romance, Broken Faces, is set in WW1 and was runner-up in the 2012 Good Housekeeping Novel Writing Competition and given a ‘special commendation’ in the Harry Bowling Prize that year. The Poppy Field is her second historical novel.
@DebsCarr
/DeborahCarrAuthor
www.deborahcarr.org
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