At the beginning of this book, Jane finds herself in her late teens, working in a small time draper’s shop. Her father has died before the book starts, leaving Jane living with her step mother and stepsiblings, and Jane is now self aware enough to know that she needs to leave as soon as she can.

She gets a new job working in a larger drapers than before, and through her youth and determination brings change and more business to her stuffy old boss. Finally she sets up shop for herself with the financial backing of one of her clients. Again through hard work and determination she makes a success of things which proves to be useful to those closest to her in the end.

This seems a fairly straight forward story, but as usual the devil is in the detail. Jane has to face the opposition of men – who cant believe that a woman could be better at business than a man – as well as women – who dont want to be seen mixing with people in “trade”. The War also makes an appearance (with the book being written in 1930, this can only really be WWI), changing the lives of many people, including Jane’s friend Wilfred, who has always been in love with her and who goes to war when he realises she doesnt love him. Jane also has a brief affair with a married man, and in the end has to make a decision that will affect everyone around her.

Meanwhile, despite the prevailing attitude that men are better than women in business, it’s the “lord of the manor” who becomes embroiled in a financial crises which reduces his partner to a bankrupt - meanwhile Jane and Mrs Briggs, having set up as a limited company, are not only making a success of the business but Jane will not be putting Mrs Briggs into the same situation as her husband finds herself in. Meanwhile Wilfred remains in the background and it is now that he shows his use to Jane....... ( )

This lovely book was published in 1930 and has lost none of its charm. I will admit I got lost a few times when they talked about certain fashion items (gaberdine?), but overall a nice story about a young womans struggle to make her own way in the world.

Bought in the wonderful Persephone Bookstore (London) who reprint 'neglected fiction and non-fiction by mid-twentieth century (mostly) woman writers'. ( )

A lovely read: in 1912, teenage Jane Carter (escaping an unhappy family and an uninspiring job in a draper's) takes a marginally better, live-in position in a similar business. With a miserly boss but a lot of ambition, Jane starts to forge ahead in society: though beset by jealous or critical onlookers... ( )

One of those rare reading experiences where between my reading and the years and distance to where the author originally put the words down, I just feel fundamentally understood. Amazing character writing and a really interesting plot around a young woman trying not to be exploited at work. ( )

This is a gentle story of a girl with nothing who uses wit, goodness and tact to be a woman with something. Not quite a Cinderella story as she doesn't fall into her good fortunes and not everything in her life is pleasant, and there is no man to rescue her. It's written prettily, the way I like LM Montgomery, with a feminine and reaching heroine. Not a new story, or a revolutionary one, but that has it's place too. Probably not Whipple's best, but I look forward to reading more of her work.

PS - This is my first Persephone to read. I don't usually buy paperbacks, but the color, paper and most importantly the size! makes it a pleasure to read. ( )