Anne de Courcy

As war clouds gathered over Europe there was nothing to do but wait, and dance. 1939 may have been the last season of peace, but it was also the the last flutter of Thirties Society, marked by balls, house parties, and the pop of champagne corks.

A fascinating insight into how pre-war debutantes adapted to the challenges of the Second World War, taking on the roles of nurses, pilots, spies, land girls, ambulance drivers, decoders and factory workers.

From the late 19th century, when the Raj was at its height, many of Britain's best and brightest young men went out to India to work. Countless young women, suffering at the lack of eligible men, followed in their wake. The women were known as 'the fishing fleet', and this is their story.

Irene, Cynthia and Alexandria were the three daughters of George Curzon, Viceroy of India. Glamorous and rich, the three sisters moved at the very highest levels of British society during the 1920's and 1930's.