English Governess in the Great War: The SEcret Brussels Diary of Mary Thorp

In September 1916, a woman named Mary Thorp began a secret diary in Brussels during World War I. She hid it whenever the Germans came to inspect her house, and it survived the war and was forgotten in a Belgian archive until it was discovered by historians in 2016. Thorp's diary provides a unique perspective on life under German occupation, including the sounds of cannons at night, food shortages, and her work for a wartime charity. It also includes her observations of the war's events and her personal story of resilience. The diary is accompanied by detailed commentary that places Thorp in her political, social, and cultural context, offering a rare opportunity to engage with the Great War on a personal level.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 290 pages
Publication date: 21 April 2021
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

In September 1916, a woman of unknown renown residing in Brussels during World War I began keeping a covert diary. Recognizing the potential risks associated with her thoughts, she refrained from using her name on the diary and would discreetly hide it whenever the German authorities conducted inspections of her residence. Miraculously, the diary managed to survive the war and ended up in a Belgian archive, remaining forgotten for nearly a century. However, the remarkable story of its author, Mary Thorp, a middle-aged English governess working for a wealthy Belgian-Russian family in Brussels, was uncovered by historians Sophie De Schaepdrijver and Tammy M. Proctor. As a foreigner and a woman, Mary Thorp provides a unique perspective on life during German occupation in Brussels, which was the largest occupied city of World War I. Her diary vividly captures the sounds of cannons firing in the middle of the night, the long lines for food and supplies in the shops, her involvement with a wartime charity, news from an interned godson in Germany, as well as elegant dinners with influential diplomats and the academic growth of her cherished charges. Mary Thorp's astute and poignant reflections shed light on the daily challenges of living under enemy occupation, offer commentary on the unfolding events of the war, and ultimately unfold a personal narrative of resilience and perseverance. De Schaepdrijver and Proctor's comprehensive commentary contextualize this extraordinary woman within her intricate political, social, and cultural milieu, offering an exceptional opportunity to engage with the Great War on a deeply personal and intimate level.

Weight: 432g
Dimension: 234 x 156 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780190087616