Constance Tomkinson (1915–1995)

This is the memoir of Constance Tomkinson (Canadian via New York), covering her time immediately before and after her time as a member of various dance troupes and chorus lines as they travelled all over the Continent during the mid to late 1930s, where Tomkinson and her colleagues "not only thought [about] but were experts in navigating the rackety worlds of show business, finance and sex while defending their virtue as energetically as a Samuel Richardson heroine." [page 5]

Whilst they were show more not a raging success, they went from job to job and had lots of varied experiences, including being pursued by high ranking German military names.

The memoir is witty and very readable.

It was made into a film in 1957, though Tomkinson is not named (or portrayed?) in it, most likely by reason that there was a dispute as to changes made in the film, which apparently made the film more salacious than the book.

A delightful memoir of a time and of places well outside my experience.

Big Ship

3 February 2026 show less