I received this book from the author.

This story of World War II is told from two perspectives: Agnes, Baroness de Saint-Aubin, and Madeline, Countess de Dragoncourt. Agnes is a young doctor in Paris during the early stages of women in medicine. She is determined to prove herself by becoming a great surgeon. Madeline is the youngest daughter in the Dragoncourt family. She is away at finishing school when the war breaks out. Madeline cannot understand why she can’t return to France and help. During a time of such brutality, how can two young women of breeding impact the war?

In Picardy Fields is set in France primarily at the Chateau of the Dragoncourt family. Hannah Byron provides a new point of view about the horrors of war and the resilience of those that rise to aid their country in any manner possible. Initially, I felt Agnes was frustrating. As a woman in a man’s world, I envisioned her role differently. Our first contact with her shows how vulnerable and meek she is. She has feelings for her mentor but fails to address them. Times were different back then. In her time women were not direct about their feelings. A woman surgeon was viewed as a novelty and not a positive move in medicine. She is determined to show that being a good doctor is not based on gender.

Madeline de Dragoncout is impetuous. After reading letters from her brother and sister, she decides that helping fight the war is important. Much more important than serving tea. She sets off for home with no real plan on how to get there. Several lucky occurrences help her make it home. She had no idea of how close the war is to her location and approaches the entire trip home as a lark. Arriving home, seeing the changes made to establish a field hospital, and looking at the wounded soldiers shocks her.

Agnes and Madeline meet at the Dragoncourt castle. Agnes and her mentor are working with the wounded as field surgeons. Madeline arrives and is fascinated by the young female surgeon. Madeline wants to make an important difference too. How can an 18 year old help?

Both Agnes and Madeline are young and inexperienced as they initially face the harsh realities of war. It is crucial that they find their path. Hannah Byron masterfully captures the ugliness of war with unemblished accuracy. Reading about the constant onslaught of wounded arriving at the field hospital is heart-wrenching. For Agnes and Madeline, circumstances beyond their control brings them the maturity that only comes from facing tragedy.

While reading this book you find yourself becoming more and more emotionally invested. Each page led me to greater respect for these ladies and concern that the next page turned could cause me to plunge into the depths of despair. Such a well written book! I encourage anyone that enjoys historic fiction, World War II, strong women and a riveting story to read this book.

My Rating: 🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

Additional Thoughts: Over the last two years I’ve read many books offering varying viewpoints of WWII. This one will stay with me for a very long time.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. It is a weird year and I am looking forward to moving forward. Here’s hoping that 2021 will give us many wonderful things to remember.