Miss Havilland, A Novel

By Gay Daly

Book Overview

Spanning both world wars and crisscrossing the U.S. and the Atlantic Ocean, Miss Havilland is the story of a brilliant mathematician who must decide her purpose in life--and live with her difficult choices.

Inspired by the true story of the author's tough-minded, six-foot-tall cousin, the story begins in California at the turn of the twentieth century, when a female student of mathematics was a rare curiosity. With the U.S. entering World War I, the fictional Evelyn Havilland is drafted by the government to go to Washington D.C. to become one of the first women involved in cryptography and military spycraft.

Compelled to wartime France to follow the man she loves, Miss Havilland ends up working in dangerous conditions near the front lines. Daly conveys the poignancy of Miss Havilland's passion in the midst of so much violence, and her ability to find charm in life despite suffering.

In time, the events of the war force Miss Havilland to choose between her closest childhood companion and the man who wants to marry her. While one man faces a lifetime of recovery from the ravages of war, the other bides his time waiting for her decision.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1950154033
• ISBN13: 9781950154036
• Release Date: April 2020
• Publisher: Sager Group LLC
• Length: 354 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Fascinating woman foraging her way through WWI

Miss Havilland is a strong, brilliant woman who has to fight the culture that makes women seem worthless in the early 1900’s. Her mathematical abilities open up educational and career possibilities that few other women have. While at the same time she shares her empathy with her family and loved ones. Interesting to read about WWI from a woman’s point of view. Loved it!