Escape the pandemic through Kate Quinn’s novel, ‘The Alice Network’

“The Alice Network” by Kate Quinn tells the story of female spies in World War I and World War II — which are virtually untold. No book has ever captivated me as much as Quinn’s novel, and what makes it even better is that it’s based off of a true story. The book holds aspects of almost every genre imaginable: love, revenge, adventure and so much more. But every different aspect blends together seamlessly, creating an intricate plot without overwhelming the reader. 

Quinn’s novel switches perspectives between two people, Evelyn Gardiner and Charlotte St. Clair. First we meet Evelyn, a 22-year-old spy recruited for WWI, when she was noticed for her ease with English, French and German while working in a file room. 

Then, after two weeks of training, she was assigned to be a busser at a restaurant in Lille, France where German officials would often dine, discussing battle tactics and plans in German. Evelyn lied to the owner of the restaurant and said her father forbade her from learning the language of the enemy — German — when in reality, she spoke German fluently. The owner promised the German officials none of the servers knew German, which eased them into discussing battle plans over dinner. Evelyn would listen to the German officials’ conversations and bring back knowledge to the head of the spy network in France, Louise de Bettignies, who went by the code name “Lilli”. 

30 years later, we’re introduced to 19-year-old Charlotte St. Clair, or Charlie as she prefers. Charlie would rather solve calculus problems and calculate tips at a restaurant than shop or find a husband — in other words, she did everything her mom didn’t want her to do. Pregnant and with no husband in tow, her mom takes her to Europe for what she calls “an appointment.” 

But, after a stop in England, Charlie runs off to find the person who might know where her cousin, Rose, is after losing contact with her after WWII. Her parents have lost hope that Rose could be alive, but Charlie, having already lost her brother to the war, wouldn’t accept that Rose could be dead until she saw herself. Her perseverance for finding her cousin is beautiful, causing me to cheer her on throughout the novel.

Her search ultimately brings her to meet Evelyn, now 54 years old. Evelyn is now a bit cynical, but her brief moments of love and caring brings the reader to want to learn more about her and what brought her to where she is. After some convincing — and a mention of a mysterious René Bordelon, who had employed Evelyn and Rose during the different wars — Evelyn agrees to help Charlie in her search for Rose, and ends up looking for René as well for her own revenge. 

As it switches perspectives back and forth, you come to learn Evelyn’s story as she recounts it to Charlie and Finn — Evelyn’s chauffeur and companion. Your reactions to her life and experiences are mirrored through Charlie and Finn, who are just as shocked as the reader. 

Through the connection made between the characters, I’ve come to love Evelyn and Charlie, so much so that their enemies became my own.  

Countless times as I was reading this book I would lose track of time. Each time the perspective switches, you don’t want to switch characters, and by the end of the next chapter, you don’t want to switch again, forming a cycle that draws you in and keeps you there —  and suddenly, you’ve read all 503 pages. And if you’re like me, you’ll read it two more times.

The sacrifices that both Evelyn and Charlie make are amazing. At first, others dismiss or ignore Evelyn and Charlie, but they show they won’t be taken advantage of. They truly are fleurs du mal — or people that appear soft and innocent but are actually strong and courageous. Reading about how fierce and resilient they were, even in the face of evil, encourages me to stand up for what I see right and be a fleur du mal myself. 

The fascination behind Quinn’s book is furthered with how historically accurate it is. In the book, Evelyn worked for Louise de Bettingies, the leader of the Alice Network. In real life, Louise ran one of the largest networks of spies in France, and her work provided England information that helped the Allies win the war.

Though Eve’s character is fictional, it is quite possible that there was someone in Eve’s situation as Louise de Bettingnies oversaw over a hundred spies. 

This book is riveting, but don’t just take my word for it. Reese Witherspoon picked it for her book club in July 2017, and it was a New York Times Bestseller along with one of NPR’s best books of the year. 

“The Alice Network” truly is a work of art, but even more so are its characters, each developed through the experiences and hardships they have faced. It leaves much to be considered for the reader, shifting the lens with which they see each day.