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Two intrepid women escape the American Red Scare for London, only to find that the long arm of J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI still threatens their work and freedom, and their fight is far from over.
Nineteen-fifties America is bright and full of promise, and New Yorker Phoebe Adler is forging her way as the rarest of things: a female television writer. But fears of a growing Red Menace cloud the optimism, and a blacklist is created to cast out suspected communist sympathizers, smashing careers and ruining lives. When Phoebe finds herself caught in the hysteria's web, she flees to London.
Though work is precarious, Phoebe finds camaraderie with other Americans in exile, including the restless and ambitious television producer Hannah Wolfson. Determined to fight the injustices of the Red Scare, Hannah hires blacklisted writers at great risk to her career and company.
But danger still looms in this supposed sanctuary. And when their families and friends--their very lives --are threatened, Phoebe and Hannah will have to make impossible choices.
PRAISE FOR RED LETTER DAYS
“Stratford’s novel effortlessly walks the line between hilarious and harrowing in her account of the tribulations of the victims of the blacklist – all told from a perspective that is unique and refreshing. And I simply adored the heroines Phoebe and Hannah, crafted from Stratford’s meticulous research and fabulous imagination.”
“Fairly singing with tension and triumph…weaves fact and fiction into a tale that serves as entertainment, warning, reflection and homage wrapped up in one highly readable package.”
“Stratford’s book is quick-paced and manages to balance background information and descriptive detail without weighing down the story…. the heart of the book is about friendship, professional ambition, and loyalty, and both Hannah and Phoebe are compelling, energetic heroines with fulfilling emotional arcs. A satisfying read with elements that are unnervingly relevant today.”
“In this crisp novel, Stratford… effortlessly melds politics, romance, and history. This delivers on every level.”
“[A] thoroughly fascinating and too-little-known story of Hannah Weinstein and her role in supporting blacklisted Americans, regardless of gender or race.”
“A vivid portrayal of artistic life during the Red Scare and the challenges women screenwriters faced in the era’s entertainment industry. It is also a witty and harrowing tale of intrigue, friendship and romance. Stratford imbues the text with lively energy and a wry voice…. Red Letter Days is a timeless and relevant story about the dangers of bias, conformity and groupthink.”
“Red Letter Days is a look at a piece of American history told through the lens of two brave women, whose stories you won’t soon forget.”
“Red Letter Days is a blacklist-era game of cat and mouse that’s positively Shakespearean in its witty dialogue, forged identities, banishments, unexpected romance, and even its drama within the drama. The final lightning-speed pages left me breathless.”
“Well plotted and moving, with witty characters and an unnervingly timely storyline, Red Letter Days is smart, satisfying historical fiction at its best.”