IN THE UK

Marriages Are Made in Bond Street

True Stories from a 1940s Marriage Bureau

by Penrose Halson

Paperback published by Pan Books February 2017 How to buy

Hardback published by Macmillan March 2016 How to buy

Penrose with Emma Dabiri

Watch Penrose on The One Show: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00077rk

In April 1939 two 24-year-olds, Heather Jenner and Mary Oliver, opened a Marriage Bureau in Bond Street. They wanted to help expatriate men - soldiers, businessmen, planters of tea and indigo, missionaries, colonial servants - who came to England on leave to find a wife.

In September 1939 war was declared. In the growing uncertainty and fear, clients of all kinds sought the Bureau's help. It blossomed into a national institution. The book's vivid, funny, sad, poignant vignettes form a microcosm of life during war and its aftermath.

* a riveting read * a perfect present * a brilliant book club choice A television series is in development by the makers of Downton Abbey Two weeks at No. 3 in the Evening Standard's London Best-Sellers' List Selected for the Texas Library Association's 2018 Topaz list (see Reviews & reactions)

Find out more

What did The Marriage Bureau's clients want?

One man asked for "Marilyn Monroe with homely ways." More requests in Bureau clients.

What do readers think?

One said: "You made me laugh out loud!"

More plaudits in Reviews & reactions.

What do reviewers say?

Ysenda Maxtone Graham wrote in Country Life:

"A book full of charm and hilarity."

Read more in Reviews & reactions.

Who is Penrose? See About Penrose.

For other questions, see Contact.

IN THE USA & CANADA

The Marriage Bureau

The True Story of How Two Matchmakers Arranged Love in Wartime London

by Penrose Halson

Paperback published by HarperCollins USA May 2nd 2017 How to buy

Paperback published by HarperCollins Canada April 18th 2017 How to buy

Marriages Are Made in Bond Street

True Stories from a 1940s Marriage Bureau

by Penrose Halson

Paperback

Published by Pan Books February 2017

ISBN 978-1-5098-2242-3

How to buy

Hardback

Published by Macmillan March 2016

ISBN 978-1-4472-8262-4

How to buy

The Marriage Bureau

The True Story of How Two Matchmakers Arranged Love in Wartime London

by Penrose Halson

Paperback

Published by HarperCollins USA May 2nd 2017

ISBN 978-0-06-256266-1

How to buy

The Marriage Bureau

True Stories of 1940s Matchmakers

by Penrose Halson

Paperback

Published by HarperCollins Canada April 18th 2017

ISBN 978-1-44345-142-0

How to buy

In April 1939 two 24-year-olds, Heather Jenner and Mary Oliver, opened a Marriage Bureau in Bond Street. They wanted to help expatriate men - soldiers, businessmen, planters of tea and indigo, missionaries, colonial servants - who came to England on leave to find a wife. In September 1939 war was declared. In the growing uncertainty and fear, clients of all kinds sought the Bureau's help. It blossomed into a national institution. The book's vivid, funny, sad, poignant vignettes form a microcosm of life during war and its aftermath. A most unusual story, which has never been told before.

* a riveting read

* a perfect present

* a brilliant book club choice

A television series is in development by the makers of Downton Abbey Two weeks at No. 3 in the Evening Standard's London Best-Sellers' List Selected for the Texas Library Association's 2018 Topaz list (see Reviews & reactions)

Find out more

What did The Marriage Bureau's clients want?

One man asked for "Marilyn Monroe with homely ways." More requests in Bureau clients.

What do readers think?

One said: "You made me laugh out loud!" More plaudits in Reviews & reactions.

What do reviewers say?

Ysenda Maxtone Graham wrote in Country Life: "A book full of charm and hilarity." Read more in Reviews & reactions.

Who is Penrose?

See About Penrose. For other questions, see Contact.