The Secret War of Julia Child: A Novel

Everything you thought you knew about Julia Child was wrong...

Before she was Julia Child, the enigmatic chef that stole hearts, she was Julia McWilliams. Thirty years old and directionless, Julia took a job working for America’s first espionage agency, years before cooking or Paris entered the picture. The Secret War of Julia Child traces Julia’s transformation from ambitious Pasadena blue blood to Washington, DC file clerk, to head of General “Wild Bill” Donovan’s secret File Registry as part of the Office of Strategic Services. The wartime journey takes her to the Far East, to Asia’s remote frontlines of then-Ceylon, India, and China, where she finds purpose, adventure, self-knowledge – and love with mapmaker Paul Child. Not only do we see Julia’s origin story, but we see the "Forgotten War" of WWII in Asia, where themes of empire and colonialism enrich the story, and deepen Julia’s perceptions of international culture. The spotlight has rarely shone on this fascinating period of time in the life of ("I'm not a spy") Julia Child, and this lyrical story allows us to explore the unlikely world of a woman in World War II spy station who has no idea of the impact she'll eventually impart.

About the Author

After studying Asian Art History at university, Diana R. Chambers worked at a Paris translation agency and later began an importing business in South Asia. She is an experienced scriptwriter, and her research has taken her all over the world. Diana lives with her fellow-traveler husband in northern California and Aix-en-Provence, France. DianaRChambers.com