A place of dreams

This book is a compelling blend of mystery, history, and creative non-fiction, that brings to life the wartime story of Norah Hodgkinson (1925-2009), a working-class schoolgirl, later clerical worker, and a prolific diarist. The book opens with a sailor's letter of thanks for a pair of socks that Norah had knitted for the Royal Navy Comforts Fund in 1940-a gift that led to an exciting romance with the sailor's dashing airman brother. But as the author pieces together Norah's diary entries and the sailor's letters, questions emerge about the men's identities and intentions. 'A Place of Dreams' uncovers a dark tale of male rivalry and wartime anonymity, and a young woman's appetite for life and love amidst unexpected dangers. Blending microhistory with family history and life-writing, the author navigates the challenges of Norah's tweet-like diary entries. Inviting the reader into Norah's world, she explores ways of uncovering the lives of ordinary women, so often absent from official archives. A Place of Dreams is a timely story in the era of #MeToo, juxtaposing Norah's wartime experiences with contemporary feminist writing to pose questions-about sex, desire, modesty, and shame-tha