The Tightening String

by Ann Bridge

"Ann Bridge" was actually Lady Mary Dolling Sanders O'Malley (1889-1974) , a diplomat's wife at the British Legation in Budapest (1940-41). Most of her novels are in large part autobiographical fiction. From dust jacket "An exciting, suspenseful novel and a tale of escape set in Hungary early in World War II ... the story of a woman's courage and deeply personal conviction as, far from home, she watches frontier after frontier fall to the enemy....More than a novel of wartime intrigue, it is inspiring, filled with the beauty of place descriptions, and the accuracy about haute monde detail that are the hallmark of Ann Bridge's suspense narratives."

Genres: Hungary

256 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2011

About the author

Mid twentieth-century novelist [real name, Mary Anne O'Malley] who began by exploiting the milieu of the British Foreign Office community in Peking, China, where she lived for two years with her diplomat husband. Her novels combine courtship plots with vividly-realised settings and demure social satire.

She went on to write novels which take as the background of their protagonists' emotional lives a serious investigation of modern historical developments (such as the leap by which Turkey progressed from a feudal-style government to become a modern republic in which women enjoyed equality of rights and equality of opportunity).

Ann Bridge also wrote thrillers centred on a female amateur detective, travel books, and family memoirs.

Reviews

[Chrissie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book because you see the early years of the Second World War from the perspective of Central Europeans. Usually, the events of the war are drawn through the eyes of Americans, British, French or Germans. Here we see events through the lives of the inhabitants of smaller nations. Although the central characters are British and employees at the British legation in Budapest during 1940 and 1941, their knowledge and their love of the country where they reside emanates from every page. Interesting details are woven into the plot. One learns a lot about Hungary in reading this book. Nature, historical and political events are woven into the story.

I like the women characters. They are strong. They are resilient. They are intelligent.

I like how the story ends. What is drawn is realistic, and although the events that occur might be considered devastating, we know that life will go on, that those given hard blows will manage anyhow!

These are the two reasons which explain why I really liked this book. The author writes from her own life experiences as a diplomat’s wife. This shows.

The audiobook is well read by Tess Malis Kincaid. It is easy to follow and the words are clearly spoken. Four stars for the narration.

Ann Bridge is an author who should be better well known. She deserves high acclaim. This is a short review; I have stated only the most essential, why the book should be read.


********************
*Enchanter's Nightshade 4 stars
*The Dark Moment 4 stars
*A Place To Stand: A Novel 4 stars
*The Tightening String 4 stars
*The Lighthearted Quest TBR
*Illyrian Spring TBR
*Peking Picnic TBR

[Michelle]

The Tightening String
Ann Bridge
Suspense
250 pages
copyright: 1962

An exciting, suspenceful novel and tale of escape set in Hungary early in World War II, The Tightening String is the story of a woman's courage and deeply personal convictions as, far from home, she watches frontier after frontier fall to the enemy.

The herione is Mrs. Eynsham, wife of the British counsellor in Budapest, a woman of character adn charm, whose committment in the war is great. While the pressures mount on all sides, she witnesses the supreme testing of her loved ones--her son in battle, her husband during an illness brought on by a serious heart attack, adn her daughter caught up in a poignant love affair overshadowed by diaster.

As the last moment for escape approaches, there are painful farewells, then flight to freedom by the last route open, with unexpected tragedy waiting at the frontier.

Building to its dreamatic conclusion amid smober overtones, The Tightening String is more than a novel of wartime intrigue. Through Mrs. Eynsham, the reader relives the trails of war with its fears and moments of high drama. It is an inspiring novel, filled with beauty of place descriptions, and the accuracy about haut-monde detail that are the hallmark of Ann Bridge's suspnse narratives.

Of The Tightening String and its relation to real life, Ann Bridge says, "There was a real British Legation in Budapest in 1940-1941, full of real people, of whom I was one--the Minister's wifel; in the novel they have been exchanged for purely invented characters. But the facts given--the long delay in parcels from England reaching the prisoners-of-war in Germany, and the extrordinary generoisty of the Hungarians in helping to meet their needs, are purely a piece of modern history."

[Elaine Kozak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gentle but compelling vignette from World War II set in a country on the periphery of the main theatre of conflict but still caught in its grip, and throwing light on unsung and largely forgotten contributions of ordinary people to the war effort.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating background on the country and history, but I didn't enjoy the story as much as I usually do with her books. Still I couldn't put it down.