For me and, as I suspect, for many readers out there, libraries hold a special place in our memories from childhood visits to present day. And, most libraries today offer so much more than books. They are often gathering places for numerous other community events: book clubs, children’s story times, lectures, workshops, guest speakers, films, and so on.
Libraries also offer opportunities to connect for families, friends, and fellow bibliophiles.
United Underground
Her enthralling historical fiction novel is based on the true story of the Bethnal Green Library which was set up in what had been a tube station in London during the early years of World War II. It was nestled more than 75 feet under the streets and provided shelter and a chance to escape in the pages of a book as bombs fell aboveground. The library was the heartbeat of a growing community of survivors (many occupying metal bedframes at night) who daily sought shelter from the destruction and loss of life happening all around them.
Elevated to branch librarian from children’s librarian, feisty Clara Button is determined to create an innovative space of sanctuary on limited resources for those who visit, particularly the children, many whose fathers are away fighting or have perished.
Generous by nature, she is quick to bend rules when it comes to administrative directives, which often puts her at odds with her dictatorial supervisor. She embraces all and always offers more than books. She takes on the role of mentor, mother, counselor, and advocate to many, often at the expense of her own emotional health.
The library that Clara Button creates is part of an underground network that includes thousands of bunk beds, a café, a nursery, and even a theater. Shelter and solace are the hallmarks of this thriving community held together by triumphant threads of goodwill, positive attitudes, and hope. At its heart is the tenacity and spirit of her youthful enthusiasm and determination to foster an uplifting atmosphere amidst the chaos of war.
Helping Button is her best friend and library assistant Ruby Munroe. Glamorous and incorrigible, the two have strikingly different personalities and operating styles, but their loyalties to each other and the library are unwavering.
Poignant Players
Thompson is a masterful storyteller, and, like any good novel, she introduces a cast of characters with a myriad of motivations from the serene to the sinister. Button has a distant relationship with her mother and mother-in-law, while Munroe’s mother is ever present and a constant source of concern.The portrayals of the children are most endearing and often heartbreaking. Bethany and her sister Marie play pivotal roles as Clara seeks to embrace them as daughters. Sparrow is a young boy whom she teaches to read.
And there are love interests for each of these young women. Readers will root for them to be happy and fulfilled, but I won’t offer any spoilers. Relationships often have their ups and downs.
Thompson clearly relishes the classics and sprinkles titles throughout as they form a book club for the children featuring the likes of “The Secret Garden,” “The Wind in the Willows,” “Treasure Island,” “Moby Dick,” and “The Jungle Book.”
Ruby’s admirer Eddie manages to scrounge up 10 copies of “Gone With the Wind” for the adult group. Not an easy task during war-torn London.
The descriptions of underground life are arresting. Thousands crammed into cramped, and often dank, spaces. Fresh air is a rarefied commodity. Tensions run high and nerves are frayed. But the library is a beacon of light in an otherwise dark environment and the two young women, along with a few ardent helpers, manage to bring in new titles and keep the shelves filled. At the same time, they willingly jump in to resolve personal problems and foster goodwill.
The Bethnal Green Library celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2022, the year this book was first published in Great Britain. Ms. Thompson interviewed 100 librarians as research for the book, as well as some of the children (now in their 90s) who remembered their days in the library, which housed some 4,000 volumes during the war.
The love of literature and the healing power of words is universal. More than knowledge and entertainment, reading books can transform lives. This is the overarching theme of Ms. Thompson’s narrative: the value and gift of books and those who guard, preserve, protect and promote them.
