Secrets of a Charmed Life

Secrets of a Charmed Life is a historical fiction novel written by Susan Meissner and published by New American Library, a division of Penguin Random House, in 2015. The book follows two sisters in wartime England, Emmeline and Julia Downtree, who are separated from each other during the Blitz. The book also follows an interview between American Oxford student Kendra Van Zant and Blitz survivor and artist Isabel MacFarland. The novel explores the themes of The Impact of War on Personal Destinies, The Conflict Between Personal Ambition and Responsibility, and The Resilience of the Human Spirit in the Face of Loss and Adversity. Other historical fiction novels by Meissner include The Shape of Mercy (2008), White Picket Fences (2009), Lady in Waiting (2010), and A Fall of Marigolds (2014).

This study guide uses the 2015 New American Library paperback edition.

Content Warning: This novel contains themes of war, loss, and separation, including trauma. There are also brief and sometimes gory descriptions of dead bodies, as well as references to pet euthanasia and suicidal ideation.

Plot Summary

In modern-day England, American Oxford student Kendra Van Zant goes to Gloucestershire to interview 93-year-old Blitz survivor and painter Isabel MacFarland for a history essay in the hope it will be featured in the newspaper on Victory in Europe (VE) Day.