The Diamond Eye

Reading historical fiction often provides an insight into a little known aspect of history - in this case the story of a Ukrainian born sniper in the Soviet army fighting against Hitler's forces as they attempt to invade Russia. Apart from the fact that the sniper has registered 309 official kills, the sniper is a woman, Mila Pavlichenko. Much of the information in The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn is based on Mila's autobiography which is interwoven with a fictional account of what also may have happened, especially when Mila was part of a Soviet delegation visiting the USA in an attempt to obtain more support for the Soviet war effort.

At 15 Mila married Alexi Pavlichenko, perhaps the biggest mistake in her life. However the union did produce a son, Slavka. Mila has discovered that she is an excellent sharp shooter and decides to join the army as a sniper to protect her son and her family. Eventually her abilities are recognised, reluctantly by many in the army hierarchy, and she soon earns the respect of her fellow soldiers. 

Meanwhile Alexi, who has refused to sign the divorce papers, joins the army as a surgeon. He is very good at his line of work but he is also a control freak and when news of Mila's talents  begin to become know he wants to share the limelight.

Once in the USA Mila meets Eleanor Rosevelt and her husband as she and the Soviet delegation embark on their promotional tour of America. However Mila soon realises that she is being followed and that  her skills may be required to save her own life.

"Lady Death" of the Red Army - Lyudmila Pavlichenko

Eleanor Rosevelt and the Soviet Sniper - Smithsonain Magazine

Lyudmila Pavlichenko - Wikipedia

The Rose Code

On a holiday in England in 2015 we visited Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire. During the Second World War thousands of people working at Bletchley Park were sworn to secrecy about the work carried out at that establishment. This code of secrecy continued well after the war. Bletchley Park is where staff worked to break enemy codes. It is a fascinating place to visit.

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn is the story of three women, Osla, Mab and Beth, from very different backgrounds who are sent to Bletchley Park. The three women work in different sections using their skills to contribute to the war effort. Beth is a code breaker working initially on Italian then German codes. However when she comes across Russian files that her former mentor was working on, she decides to continue his work uncovering a traitor passing on information to the Russians.

Generally I really enjoyed reading this book, especially the sections on Bletchley Park, however I felt that it was too long and some sections could have been omitted or reduced. No doubt some other readers would enjoy the sections about the realtionships of the women more than the historical content. It is a book worth reading and provides an insight into what it was like living in England during and immediately after the Second World War.

Much of the book is factual and at the end of the novel the author explains which sections of the book and characters are based on actual events and people and where she has used her imagination to tell the story. There is also a guide for book clubs.