The Dragon Lady - June book club

A beautifully written combination of fact and fiction.
I liked the short chapters which made it an easy read.
I wondered if the author has any connections to the Courtauld family as the finer details are impressive.
(I also loved the rich colours and design of the book cover)

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The depth of knowledge of the author impressed me, as did her ability to explore complex relationships. The ordeals the black Africans had to endure was dealt with without over dramatising the situation, and this made it hard hitting. I thought the character of Ginie, the Dragon Lady, was a fascinating mix of a desire to be accepted and therefore conform, along with naivety of the times in which she was living. An easy read but not without depth. Overall an enjoyable book.

The book took time to get into as I find leaping backwards and forwards in time takes the pace away from the read. The second half of the book for me was far more engaging, laying bare two very distinct white communities and the black indigenous population who bore the brunt of racism and imperialism, partially mitigated by the action of the more liberal white population.

The descriptions of the renovation and later bombing of Eltham palace were riveting showing how ancient and modern can be married to produce sensational architecture.

The story is additionally a rags to riches tale although for me this took second place to the developing conflict that led to UDI in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe).

I’d like to know why current authors write between periods rather than recount a story chronologically.

I enjoyed this book, and although I thought I knew who was responsible, I wasn’t quite right, but heading in the right direction!
I didn’t know much at all about the Courtauld family, just that they produced sewing threads, so reading up about them after reading the book was interesting, and very informative - a fascinating family.
I wonder if Louise intends writing another book following on from this one about the couple, or has she got another philanthropist she is interested in following up and writing a story based around them, using the same style of fact interspersed with fiction?
I do hope something is in the pipeline.

I am really enjoying reading this book as I lived near Eltham Palace and find the place fascinating.
I wonder why many authors these days do not write in a chronological style but jump backwards and forwards in time. Many films also do this. I stick with it hoping that it will become clearer in the end but find it very confusing.
I will probably recommend this book to my book club for their thoughts and comments.

A beautifully written,rich and descriptive book about a real-life person.A fascinating haunting story. It kept me guessing all the way through!
Thank you for giving me the joy of reading this book ;-)
Question:
What were the early influences on your writing and how do they manifest in your work?

Not normally my type of book but gave it a go. Was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this. The short chapters helped and I kept up with all that transpired . How much research has she done to achieve a really good read? Will pass it on to my sister.thank you a real treat.

I enjoyed this. A beautifully
written, informative, exciting story with a mystery running throughout. I felt as if I were really there both in the UK and Rhodesia, experiencing all the different twists & turns of the story. The mix of fact and fiction is interesting- I wonder what reaction, if any, there has been from the Courtauld family?
Since reading this, I have discovered that Stephen Courtauld's nephew, Augustine (son of his brother Samuel) was married to Mollie Montgomerie who later became the wife of Rab Butler, who in turn was the widower of Sydney Courtauld, August's cousin. Their country house was Gatcombe Park (just down the road from me) which was originally owned by Samuel Courtauld and then bought by HM for Princess Anne. What a complicated but fascinating family! I'll look forward to discovering more ...

I have just finished reading this, and although it is not the genre of book I would normally choose to read, I really enjoyed it. As another Gransnet term has mentioned, the short chapters made it easy to follow the story and the wealth of contextual information. It is a cleaver weaving of historical fact, and fiction but makes for a very informative and enjoyable read. My question for Louis is whether she will now explore further periods in the Courtsuld's live as there is obviously a rich vein of historical resources to explore?

Well written and informative- quite rattled along. How did the author find out about all the detail, it’s as though she lived it.

Thank you for my copy of The Dragon Lady. I have just finished reading it. It was a very enjoyable informative read . I liked the ‘short’ chapters giving different characters perspectives although at first I did wonder how I would keep up with them- this actually posed no problem. I thought it was a good portrayal of an ex pat life ( lived abroad when young so experienced some of this)and the class system at that time. Louise Treger must have done a lot of research about the life of the Courtaulds. Would recommend this book and will now pass the book on for others to enjoy.
Question- what gave you the inspiration to tackle this subject?

Thank you for my copy of The Dragon Lady which I have read this weekend.
I was impressed with the amount of research Louisa Treger must have put in to create such an accurate portrayal of the Courtaulds and their unique story.
I felt as though I had been to Rhodesia by the time I had finished the book, the descriptions were so compelling and immersive, and all of the way through you are trying to piece together the story to work out who has shot Ginie.
A great enjoyable read, brilliantly written.

Mine has just arrived. Started it - looking good ...

Received my copy today. Will read it on holiday and report back.