The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

A man named Dawsey Adams contacts Juliet, saying he has in his possession her copy of Charles Lamb’s Selected Essays of Elia. He asks whether she might know of a bookshop in London that could procure more of Lamb’s writings because the book had helped him throughout the German Occupation of the English Channel Islands and reminded him of how his literary society, the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, came to be. Juliet goes to a still-standing bookshop in London and asks its owner to track down more titles for Dawsey. She sends Dawsey her personal copy of Selected Letters by Lamb and asks Dawsey if he would like to keep corresponding with her, as well as other questions about his society.

While Juliet travels England and attends teahouses and meetings to promote her book, she indulges in a new dress and a new haircut. She feels frivolous for doing so, given how sparse such luxuries were during the war. She also keeps receiving flowers from a man named Markham V. Reynolds Jr. at every destination. Sidney reveals to her that he knows Mark as the owner of a rival American publishing company, and when he came to inquire about her at his office while Sidney was away, his secretary revealed Juliet’s itinerary to him.

Later, Sidney’s associate, Susan, who is traveling with Juliet, warns Sidney about an incident with a reporter by the name of Gilly Gilbert. Gilly had tried to dig up information about Juliet’s failed engagement and had insinuated harsh things about her intended, Lieutenant Rob Dartry, and the reasons why they called off their wedding since he died three months after his deployment. Juliet apologizes to Sidney for the media scandal via telegram, but Sidney responds not to worry about it.

In her next letter, Juliet confesses that the reason why Juliet had called off the wedding was retrospectively anodyne: when she and Rob had moved in together, Rob had boxed and replaced all her books on her bookshelves with his sports trophies without asking. They fought, and the wedding was canceled, much to the relief of both parties. Both Juliet and Sidney agree that she should not go to Scotland and should instead return home to London because of the scandal, and Sidney holds a press conference to address Gilly’s portrayal of Juliet in his publication.

Dawsey explains that the inception of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society could be traced to a clandestine dinner of roasted pig that took place during the Occupation. A farmer, Dawsey had lost all of his livestock (predominantly pigs) to the German soldiers and, like all the others on the island, had been consuming nothing but turnips and gristle for quite some time. His longtime neighbor, Amelia Maugery, had secreted away a pig, and as Dawsey was known for his butchering ability, he was invited to dine on the pig with a number of her friends. Their dinner lingered past the curfew times imposed by the German soldiers. When the guests left to go home and were discovered by some soldiers, Dawsey’s friend Elizabeth McKenna lied and told the soldiers they had a literary society meeting that had unfortunately run later than expected. The German soldiers decided to believe her and let them go home. At the end of his letter, Dawsey asks Juliet about a Punch cartoon that had characters with large ears discussing Doodlebugs. Juliet responds with admiration for the story of the Society’s founding and asks if the Society would be willing to be included in an article she is writing for the Times on the impact of literature from a philosophical perspective. She then explains that Doodlebugs were bombs dropped during the daytime. So long as one could hear them, a person was safe, so everyone listened intently for their distinct sound.

Juliet contacts Mark after receiving another ostentatious bouquet. Mark explains that he is pleased to be in direct communication with her and wants to meet her in person. They agree to meet at Claridge’s the following Monday and to keep communicating by mail since Juliet’s phone still lies under a pile of rubble from the London bombings.

Dawsey puts Juliet in contact with Amelia, whom he believes to be a better spokesperson for their Society. Amelia sends a letter to Juliet the next day, explaining that while she has no issues discussing the Society and the Occupation, she worries about the witty tone Juliet used in her writing as Izzy Bickerstaff—one she fears would ridicule the Society members. Juliet assures her she will do no such thing but also enlists the help of two people to provide character references: the Reverend Simon Simpless, who knew her as a child and likes her, and Lady Bella Taunton, who served with her as a fire warden during the Blitz and does not like her at all. The latter informs Amelia that though Juliet’s character is not to be criticized, her lack of common sense has led her to ridiculous decisions, like abandoning her post as fire warden to run to the Inner Temple Hall Library when the roof collapsed because of the bombing. Juliet had, Bella reports, tried to save the books. The Reverend, meanwhile, explains that Juliet’s childhood was a hard one, having lost both her parents as a child. She was taken in by an uncle who was ill-prepared to raise her and then sent to boarding school, from which she ran away twice. The Reverend, however, also describes her as a precociously smart child, and she, along with her friends Sophie and Sidney Stark, became a reliable person, steadfast in her promises.

Juliet, meanwhile, tells Sophie of her encounter with Mark. She finds herself enjoying his company and enthralled by his looks. Days later, Susan inquires whether she had been correct when she thought she saw her dancing with Mark Reynolds. Juliet denies it.

Amelia and most of the rest of the Society have decided to participate in Juliet’s article. She recounts her side of the story of the inception of the Society. After the roast pig dinner, unaware of her friends’ encounter with the German soldiers, Amelia had been taken by surprise by Elizabeth, who came the next morning, arms laden with books. They resolved to buy every book available in the neighboring bookstores to substantiate Elizabeth’s story and surreptitiously invited all of their friends back to her house that night so they could pick a book, read it, and make Elizabeth’s lie true. Over time, the members grew in number and became fonder of one another. Amelia also explains that the “Potato Peel Pie” part of their Society’s name comes from a refreshment Will Thisbee, a member, came up with when food provisions were scarce.

Amelia tells Juliet to expect letters from other members. Isola Pribby writes to Juliet the next day to tell her that she, like Juliet, has a fondness for the Brontë sisters and once gave a talk on the sisters at one of the Society’s meetings. She tells Juliet that she is willing to tell her more about how reading helped perk up her spirits throughout the entire Occupation, except when German soldiers sent Elizabeth to prison in France after she hid an enslaved Polish worker. Juliet then contacts Dawsey, thanking him for a gift of lilac flowers and remarking that speaking with Amelia and Isola has made her aware of her ignorance about the Occupation. She resolves to learn more about it and the Channel Islands.