The Radio Hour

By Victoria Purman

Book Overview

From USA TODAY bestselling author Victoria Purman comes an engaging, clever story about women's work--often unseen--during Australia's golden years of radio broadcasting.

Martha Berry is on the brink of fifty years old, unmarried, and one of an army of polite, invisible women who go to work each day at the country's national broadcaster and get things done without fuss, fanfare, or reward.

When the network prepares to launch a new radio serial in the style of their longest running and most successful show, Martha is transferred to assist the newly hired Quentin Quinn, the man who will write and produce the drama. But Mr. Quinn is wholly unprepared and ill-equipped for the role, clueless about radio and work in general. He'd rather enjoy his cigarettes and imbibe over lengthy lunch breaks and cannot be bothered to call his secretary by her correct name.

Rather than see the new show canceled, Martha steps in to hire a cast and write the scripts for the new show. Her authentic, women-focused storyline snags an ever-growing audience of loyal fans--and causes a stir with management. And Quentin Quinn is more than happy to accept the credit. But Martha's secret cannot remain hidden. All too soon she faces exposure and must decide if she will politely remain in the shadows--or boldly step into the spotlight.

The Radio Hour is at once a sharp satire exposing the lengths men once employed to keep women out of the workplace and a hopeful tale about how one woman proves her worth and unwittingly outsmarts them all.

"Bestselling Australian author Victoria Purman is one of our nation's most valued storytellers . . . " --Mrs. B's Book Reviews

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 140034803X
• ISBN13: 9781400348039
• Release Date: February 2025
• Publisher: Harper Muse
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.89 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.4" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Heartwarming historical fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for a digital advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own unless otherwise noted. Loved this – the premise, the era, the setting, the characters. As the publisher writes: “A charming, funny, pointed look at the golden years of radio broadcasting in post-war Australia, celebrating the extraordinary unseen women who wrote the radio plays that held a nation captive.” If you’re looking for a story of heartwarming historical fiction that demonstrates the power and intelligence of women and their friendships in the workplace, I highly recommend this!