Greetings Reader Friend!
How did Julia McWilliams progress from her role as a clerk for the Office of Strategic Services (the CIA’s predecessor) to gathering intelligence in World War II to becoming a celebrity chef and cookbook author?
Did her wartime life in Asia prepare her to dive into French cooking and cookbook writing (as Julia Child, her married name)?
In The Secret War of Julia Child, author Diana R. Chambers addresses these questions, as well as creating an entertaining, fact-based historical novel about Julia’s life, from her early years in Pasadena, California, to her departure from Asia at the close of World War II.
Julia’s “hunger for experience” comes through strongly in the novel—helping to explain why Julia rejected her first serious suitor, why she lobbied her boss to send her to Asia during World War II, and why she sought the most remote, adventuresome assignments during the war.
Chambers sets Julia’s adventures against the backdrop of women’s status in the U.S. in the 1940s—with fewer career opportunities than their male counterparts, most women (including Julia) sought the security of marriage. Julia’s height made her anxious that she wouldn’t find that security. Although she also desired independence, her goal of finding a husband emerges as a clear theme throughout the novel.
Julia views Paul Child in a negative light from their first meeting, when his Jeep splashed her with mud, leaving much change to follow through the novel. Their love story, with all its ups and downs, provides a non-linear thread reminiscent of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.
Major Characters:
Julia McWilliams—protagonist; a tall, ambitious young woman who loves to take on challenges, but worries she’ll never find a husband
Paul Child—mapmaker whose brusqueness and apparent self-centeredness initially repel Julia
General “Wild Bill” Donovan: The real-life founder and head of the Office of Strategic Services; he hires Julia as a file clerk and later sends her into the field.
Lord Louis Mountbatten: The British chief of the South-East Asia Command; he’s friendly and polite to Julia, even when she secretly investigates his unit for potential moles
Jemadar Deepak Binoy: An Indian soldier; he’s a fictional character in the novel, highlighting the loyalty and bravery of the diverse personnel Julia encountered in the South Asia theater.
Caro McWilliams—Julia’s mother; she encourages Julia to be a free spirit, but also influences her to find a husband and settle down, fueling Julia’s internal conflict
Jane—a colleague and friend of Julia’s who served with her in Asia; Julia is frequently jealous of Jane’s attractiveness to men
Lieutenant James Mack—Mountbatten’s handsome assistant; he’s Julia’s romantic interest in Ceylon before Paul Child
Strengths:
Chambers immerses readers in the exotic locations of Julia’s experiences in a vivid, breath-taking way, including suspenseful descriptions of the dangers she encountered, both natural and human-caused.
Weakness:
Emphasis on romance seems a bit exaggerated, but this could be an accurate reflection of women’s perspectives in that era
Content Review:
This novel doesn’t shy away from the violence of war (as observed by Julia), or physical intimacy, but neither are portrayed graphically.
My Recommendation:
This novel offers an intriguing window into the years before Julia McWilliams became the Julia Child known to the world, as well as insights into the basic operations of the OSS in World War II. I enjoyed The Secret War of Julia Child, and I would recommend it to both foodies and history buffs.
Reader, can you recommend a novel set in the Asian theater during World War II?