The Great War is over, and change is in the air, in this novel that brings to life the exciting days of early British radio…and one woman who finds her voice while working alongside the brilliant women and men of the BBC. London, 1926. American-raised Maisie Musgrave is thrilled to land a job as a secretary at the upstart British Broadcasting Corporation, whose use of radio—still new, strange, … use of radio—still new, strange, and electrifying—is captivating the nation. But the hectic pace, smart young staff, and intimidating bosses only add to Maisie’s insecurity.
Soon, she is seduced by the work—gaining confidence as she arranges broadcasts by the most famous writers, scientists, and politicians in Britain. She is also caught up in a growing conflict between her two bosses, John Reith, the formidable Director-General of the BBC, and Hilda Matheson, the extraordinary director of the hugely popular Talks programming, who each have very different visions of what radio should be. Under Hilda’s tutelage, Maisie discovers her talent, passion, and ambition. But when she unearths a shocking conspiracy, she and Hilda join forces to make their voices heard both on and off the air…and then face the dangerous consequences of telling the truth for a living.
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Very informative book on women’s struggle in the radio industrdy at its birth. I enjoyed watching the creative, avant- garte personality make inroads into provididing desirable programming. To use what little they had for the benefit of the listeners. To create audiences.
Unfortunately, success is not appreciated by all because it is not their success. It is a wonder that people feel the need to destroy rather than find a way to build on others success. This is especially true with what is held out as “public radio”.
There is a lot to be learned by reading this book under the “how not to treat others” heading.
But it is a terrific book to read?
Very well written Historical Novel. Sets the scene of its time very well.
I wanted to see where the main Character went from there or might go.
Historical fiction with a romance in the background. Interesting perspective on how new communication via radio influenced leaders as well as citizens. As a BBC fan, I enjoyed knowing more about its beginnings.
Entertaining. The heroine makes a very surprising and positive transformation. A bit more gay characters than one might expect in a population, but that’s what publishers are buying these days.
Eavesdropping on the early years of the BBC. What’s not to like? The war of the sexes is especially interesting. The women are fascinating, and the men with the power? Out to lunch!
Sarah-Jane Stratford’s Radio Girls is an achievement of historical fiction so believable that you’ll wonder if the author has access to a time machine. Maisie’s trajectory — from mousey, fearful underling into assertive, independent powerhouse — mirrors that of the nascent BBC for which she works. The promise of post-war prosperity and the looming threat of fascism make for an engrossing background against which Maisie finds herself involved in international intrigue and national rights movements which will make the reader turn the pages frantically, utterly enthralled until the very end. By turns funny and fascinating, Radio Girls is a triumph.
Radio Girls carries readers on a memorable, eye-opening journey to London in the 1920s and ’30s, a pivotal time in the history of women’s rights, politics, and the arts. Sarah-Jane Stratford’s storytelling skills are on vivid display throughout, and the strong, believable, and immensely human Maisie Musgrave is the best imaginable guide to that vanished time and place.
1920’s, Early days of the BBC
Filled with history on a personal level.!
If you like Julian Fellowes and his sly depictions of how British society has more layers than a chunk of mica, or if you like espionage, or romance, or simply terrific writing, you’ll love Radio Girls. Also, in a way that’s not partisan or hectoring, it’ll have you thinking about women’s rights, as well as the danger of media censorship. My wife and I read Radio Girls and then my listened to the superb audio book. Like tuning in to the old BBC! Enjoy.
Great to see women from this era recognized. There should be many more books like this because women did amazing things during all the wars and never got the credit they deserved. Kudos of the highest order!
A delightful slice of worker history
Fascinating historical novel about the early years of the BBC. It is a great read and many of the characters were important figures of the years between the world wars. I highly recommend this.
For many of today’s readers, radio is something we have in our car but usually ignore. Well, maybe we listen to some music occasionally, but that’s about it. This book talks about radio in its infancy in England and the birth of the glorious BBC. I found the historical information quite entertaining, but then, I remember radio before TV! In England at this time, young women were expected to work for a few years while they “hunt” a husband; however, once married, they were not supposed to work at all. So, a career for a young woman was out of the question. As a result they usually became file clerks or typists occasionally a secretary. Our heroine is a young woman just out of “Business School” who has moved to London to live in a tiny room in a rundown boarding house and work as a secretary at the fledgling BBC. Not content to limit herself to husband-hunting, she sets out to learn all that she can learn about everything and everybody, especially radio and the people for whom she works. Her job is trying and her boss is demanding but she has a peek into the creative world of “Talk Radio” and falls in love. She spends all of her energy on making herself indispensible to her employer and discovers that she has great ideas. In the throes of investigating the roots of radio she uncovers a mystery which confounds herself–but she keeps on digging and holding onto all kinds of scraps of information in her run-down bag. At length, the mystery unfolds and she is able to make a read contribution to the future of radio and especially BBC. I loved this book for its authenticity and its attention to the plight of young women in oure pre-TV days. I also appreciate the fact that our heroine was not so dedicated to husband-hunting. I believe that you will too.
Held my attention and hated to put it down. A window into the lives of people during the period after WW II in England. I didn’t realize until I hate read it that it was based on real people at the BBC.
I really enjoyed the story! Learned a lot about the early years of BBC as we followed a young woman’s early job with the radio company! It was a fun book to read!
Didn’t know anything about the beginning of the BBC. Really enjoyed reading about the women who were already knocking on that glass ceiling.
A look at the time period of both radio development and events of the period in Britain.
I thoroughly enjoyed Radio Girls! A fictionalized look at the early years of the BBC is fascinating and the characters that the author has created, mixing among real people of the time, are intriguing.
The plot is exciting, though a little swamped at times with unnecessary detail that interferes with the steady pace of the tale, but if the revolution of the world by means of radio broadcasting, a leap into the world we now live in, tickles your interest, then this is the book for you.
As a “mature” on-air talent/writer in both radio and television, I couldn’t put it down. When the puppy insisted that he had to go to bed, I dimmed the lights to almost nothing, and read my way to dawn.
I hate to drop my review to four stars, but what I considered unnecessary detail, a very slow start and a wiser hand needed in editing, I can only give Radio Girls a 4 star review, while I urge broadcast lovers, history lovers, men and women curious about the the first steps women demanded in political equality with men and those looking for adventure, intrigue, and an English view of the situation and people in Germany and outside it who made Hitler’s atrocities possible — you really must read this book.
Thank you, Sarah-Jane Stratford!
A bit of History and women’s roles not known much about. The story line keeps you engaged.