Description
The Girls of Slender Means by Muriel Spark is a sharply observed novel set in post-war London, where the young women living at the May of Teck Club try to maintain an appearance of normality despite the lingering effects of the Second World War. With limited money, few possessions and plenty of competition for romance, they occupy themselves with elocution lessons, social ambitions and the coveted ownership of a single Schiaparelli dress.
Behind their lively routines, however, lie the emotional scars of wartime Britain. As their seemingly carefree world begins to unravel, Spark explores class, desire, survival and the ways people conceal painful experiences behind ordinary routines.
The Girls of Slender Means is an excellent choice for readers who enjoy classic British literature, dark humour and psychologically nuanced stories set against a historical backdrop.
