London December 1940 - April 1941

The novel is set mostly in London during the German Blitz of World War II. The Germans conducted regular bombings on civilian targets as a way to demoralize English troops and citizens. Britons responded stoically to defy the Germans. In Dear Mrs. Bird, evidence of the destruction surrounds Emmy as she moves through London, with bombed out streets and ruined buildings. The timeline of the novel runs from Winter to Spring, which classically signifies progression from despair to hope.

The woman’s friend office

Situated on the fifth floor of the Launceston Press building, the Woman’s Friend office was once a hub of activity, but is now nearly empty since the magazine has lost popularity. The office is physically connected to the more prestigious Launceston Press offices, but the staff there almost never has any contact with the rest of the company. The location...