Marriages Are Made in Bond Street
True Stories from a 1940s Marriage Bureau
by Penrose Halson
Paperback
Published by Pan Books
February 2017
ISBN 978-1-5098-2242-3
Hardback
Published by Macmillan
March 2016
ISBN 978-1-4472-8262-4
The Marriage Bureau
The True Story of How Two Matchmakers Arranged Love in Wartime London
by Penrose Halson
Paperback
Published by HarperCollins USA
May 2nd 2017
ISBN 978-0-06-256266-1
The Marriage Bureau
True Stories of 1940s Matchmakers
by Penrose Halson
Paperback
Published by HarperCollins Canada
April 18th 2017
ISBN 978-1-44345-142-0
In April 1939 two 24-year-olds, Heather Jenner and Mary Oliver, opened a Marriage Bureau in Bond Street.
They wanted to help expatriate men - soldiers, businessmen, planters of tea and indigo, missionaries, colonial servants - who came to England on leave to find a wife.
In September 1939 war was declared.
In the growing uncertainty and fear, clients of all kinds sought the Bureau's help. It blossomed into a national institution.
The book's vivid, funny, sad, poignant vignettes form a microcosm of life during war and its aftermath.
A most unusual story, which has never been told before.
* a riveting read
* a perfect present
* a brilliant book club choice
A television series is in development by the makers of Downton Abbey
Two weeks at No. 3 in the Evening Standard's London Best-Sellers' List
Find out more
What did The Marriage Bureau's clients want?
One man asked for "Marilyn Monroe with homely ways."
More requests in Bureau clients.
What do readers think?
One said: "You made me laugh out loud!"
More plaudits in Readers' reactions.
What do reviewers say?
Ysenda Maxtone Graham wrote in Country Life: "A book full of charm and hilarity."
Read more in Reviews.
Who is Penrose?
See About Penrose.
For other questions, see Contact.
