JOSEPHINE

Josephine: Singer, Dancer, Soldier, Spy is a well-researched fictionalised biography of Josephine Baker, an African-American woman who escaped the horrors of the segregated American South to make a new life for herself in France. I already knew of her as a famous 1920s burlesque dancer, but knew very little of her early life or her Resistance work during the Second World War. I think Josephine did gain mentions in Anne Sebba's Les Parisiennes and I love how McGinness' novel now takes me from Les Parisiennes to Estoril by Dejan Tiago-Stankovic, and beyond. It's wonderful when knowledge from previous reads gives me an even greater depth of understanding of my present book!

This book is in two parts, each made up of short chapters, so it keeps up a fast pace most of the time. Part one details her early life in America. Part two focuses on her Parisian debut and continues until the end of the War. I initially appreciated this structure and McGinness's prose style, although I did find myself losing track of what was happening once Josephine reached North Africa. Perhaps greater focus on fewer events would have been beneficial?

I'm not sure to what extent this novel has been imagined. Obviously private conversations are more than likely invented by McGinness, but otherwise I felt that descriptions of Josephine's travels and performances were firmly rooted in fact. Her espionage activities are fascinating as well as exciting and I would like to have learned more details about exactly what she did. Perhaps the information isn't available? Overall though, I was happy that I got a great sense of this amazing woman's character, her determination and compassion as well as her unrivalled artistic talent. Josephine: Singer, Dancer, Soldier, Spy is a very welcome addition to my library of biographies of inspirational women.