Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Soon after the end of WWII, writer Juliet Ashton receives a letter from a man from Guernsey who is searching for information about Charles Lamb. So begins a correspondence that extends to others on Guernsey, in particular the members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Through the letters we learn about what happened to the people of this island during the German occupation and how they have fared since the war. The letters are delightful; often amusing and entertaining, sometimes sad and moving, always full of information. They paint a picture of the strong, brave, interesting characters that populate the island and what they endured. They did what was necessary to survive, including forming their literary society, and ended up with a love and appreciation for literature and all that it can do. Their straightforward goodness and lack of sentiment will charm you and make you wish that the letters could continue and tell you more of their story.