Discussion Questions 1.
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How do you think World War I affected Louisa, Ivy, Bernie and Win? In what aspects could that change have been for the better or worse?
As time progresses during the war, Ivy and Jim’s relationship grows but is also faced with hardships. What was your favorite moment between them, and why?
2.
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Were you surprised to find that women had differing perspectives on how to support their country during the war? Which perspectives did you agree or disagree with?
Discuss the different issues that the Kew Gardens girls faced that are still relevant today. Which ones resonated with you the most?
3.
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The Kew Gardens Girls sheds light on the Suffragettes movement during World War I but also the politics on the home front surrounding the war. Did you learn something new about this time period during your read? If so, what?
Win is a late addition to Kew Gardens but quickly becomes an important figure in the novel. What good qualities do you think she added to the group? Was there a defining moment that showed you her true character?
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The women of Kew each suffered losses and terrible heartaches but found strength in one another. Which friendship was your favorite, and why?
5. Were you surprised by how Louisa reacted when she was told Bernie’s secret? If you were Louisa, would you have reacted the same or differently?
What do you think it means to be a Kew Gardens girl?
10. What were your thoughts about the ending? If you could go beyond the last page, where do you see each character’s path leading?
A conversation with Posy Lovell ©
What was the inspiration behind The Kew Gardens Girls?
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I love history, but I often find it’s largely written by men. Often finding out what the women were doing during a certain time gives me inspiration for a new story, and this was no different. I loved discovering that the women gardeners at Kew were paid the same as men—something women are still fighting for in many sectors even now, one hundred years later. That discovery grew into an idea for the novel.
While this story is a work of fiction, the foundation is inspired by real-life events during World War I. What research did you perform in order to craft this story? I’d never written about World War I before, so I had to do some reading about the war itself and women’s roles during the time. I also got the chance to spend a day in the archives at Kew, reading all the letters of application written by women who wanted to be gardeners in 1915. It was fascinating.
Are any of these characters based on real people? None of the main characters are based on real people, but Emmeline Pankhurst was of course a prominent Suffragette, and her daughter Sylvia—whom Ivy works with in the East End of London—did as she does in the story and formed a breakaway group. The story of the Pankhurst women is fascinating and worth checking out, if you’re interested in the history of women’s suffrage.
While Louisa and Ivy are both Suffragettes, their initial beliefs on how best to support their country and their cause differ. What was it like crafting these opposing viewpoints? What research went into that writing process? I am a huge admirer of Emmeline Pankhurst, so I was disappointed to discover that she was responsible for the white feather campaign, which I think was ill-judged, unempathetic, and often downright nasty. I realized I wouldn’t be the only person who thought that way—and equally, there would be people who disliked her approach to campaigning but approved of her patriotism. I decided a good way to present these opposing views would be for two friends—Ivy and Louisa—to hold them passionately.
At the center of this novel are courageous, inspiring women, but we also are introduced to Bernie, a man with an unpopular mind-set about the war. Why did you decide to add this interesting perspective into the story? I’ve always thought that conscientious objectors were very brave in their own way. I wanted to explore the strength of feeling that would make someone refuse to fight, even though they knew others were dying on the battlefields. I found that when I was writing Bernie’s chapters, I was completely on his side, but when I switched viewpoints to Louisa, I saw the issue differently again. I’m still not sure who I agree with!
What was your favorite scene in the novel, and why? It’s really sad, but I like the scene when Win gets the telegram about her beloved Archie from the Front, and Ivy and Louisa take her home and look after her. I think it shows the strength of their friendship, despite their different backgrounds.
Did you always know where Ivy and Jim’s relationship would lead as you were crafting their story? Was there one moment in particular that you enjoyed writing the most? I adore Ivy and Jim together. Their romance was always going to be an important part of the story, but it took on a life of its own and grew. I especially enjoyed learning about the language of flowers and using it to keep Ivy and Jim in touch when he was sent to fight in France.
What was the biggest obstacle you faced while writing The Kew Gardens Girls? Learning about plants! We are really lucky and we have a small garden in our house in London, but I don’t know much about gardening. I knew that the experts at Kew would read my manuscript and check it for errors so I spent ages making sure that I wasn’t putting plants in the wrong place, or having them bloom at the wrong time of year or in the wrong color.
In The Kew Gardens Girls, the most powerful dynamics occur within female friendships. What do you believe are the key ingredients to these successful friendships? Support and having each other’s backs, even when things are tough or you don’t agree about something.
What do you want readers to take away from The Kew Gardens Girls? That by coming together and taking action, you can achieve anything. The women—and Bernie— had huge issues to overcome, and alone they wouldn’t have stood a chance, but together they triumphed. We’re always stronger together.
Kew Garden Cocktail INGREDIENTS: 8 mint leaves 3 cucumber slices ½ oz simple syrup 2 oz Banks 5 Island rum ¾ oz fresh lime juice ½ oz St-Germain Club soda Garnish: mint sprig Garnish: cucumber slice STEPS:
In a shaker, muddle the mint leaves, cucumber slices, and simple syrup. Add the rum, lime juice, and St-Germain, and fill with ice. Shake, and strain into a Collins glass filled with fresh ice. Top with club soda. Garnish with a mint sprig poked through a cucumber slice.
Garden Gin & Tonic Cocktail INGREDIENTS: 1½ ounces Beefeater gin ½ ounce Dolin blanc vermouth 2 dashes orange bitters Tonic water, to top Garnish: grapefruit wheel Garnish: lemon wheel Garnish: cucumber slices Garnish: strawberry Garnish: lavender sprig
Recipe from Jim Meehan, Liquor.com liquor.com/recipes/kew-garden
STEPS:
Add the gin, vermouth, and bitters to a goblet or wine glass and fill with fresh ice. Top with tonic water and garnish with grapefruit and lemon wheels, cucumber slices, strawberries, and a lavender sprig. Recipe from Liquor.com liquor.com/recipes/garden-gin-tonic