The Marriage Bureau: The True Story of How Two Matchmakers Arranged Love in Wartime London Paperback – Illustrated, May 2, 2017

An interesting read and proof that people need people. We are still awkward at finding a mate. A nice bit of history..

This is an easy read, the biography of a matchmaking business in wartime London that helped people all over the world to find a mate. Unlike modern-day agencies, this bureau was specifically designed to help people who wanted to be married rather than dating. The business women who started the agency had experienced difficulties in finding someone suitable to their own personalities, and felt prepared to help others. Moreover, they understood that changes in society, and the roles of women, had changed, and that these women needed help in finding someone who could accept these differences.It is a quick, easy, and entertaining read. I do wish, though, that the author has gone to greater length to find some of the people involved. At the very least, it would have been nice to know what had happened to Mary, one of the founders who emigrated during the war and lost touch with her old friends. It would also been satisfying to know how things ended for more clients, as only a few are reported on later. Still, this is a lovely book for those who enjoy social history.

"The Marriage Bureau" was an interesting, but not riveting, book. It tells the true story of two women who started a matchmaking business right before WWII. Keep in mind that these women were making matches before computers could help them keep things organized, and they eventually had thousands of clients. This book chronicles some of the stories of the real couples they matched, some of which are hysterical, while others are heartbreaking. The women who ran the bureau were clearly smart, had great memories and took copious notes. I think what's especially impressive is that they were able to keep the bureau running and thriving throughout the entirety of WWII. I find people, and the way they live their lives to be interesting. If you do, also, then you'll enjoy this book. If that doesn't interest you, I suggest you find something else.

Two young Englishwomen meet in India, prior to WWII. One a divorcee, one with several failed romances. Back in London, they maintain their friendship as they go job to job, never staying in any job very long. Niggling in the back of one's mind is the suggestion of her Uncle George that she start a matchmaking business to help find "suitable" wives for all the unattached English fellows in foreign service, who have very little time on home leave to meet the "right" person. Thus, The Marriage Bureau is born. Started on a shoestring in 1939, with their meager savings, their "outrageous" venture soon becomes very popular, and aided by the war, very successful. I found this book very heartwarming, and a fascinating glimpse into the era in which my own parents met and married, shortly after the war. If you like historical memoirs, you might like this one as much as I did!

Really enjoyed all of the short stories that made up this book. People are strange and wanting to share their strangeness with like strange. A really fun read.

I enjoyed reading about the social aspects of British life pre W W II. The writing style is easy and the skies within the story are fascinating. When the war is ongoing, it is amazing how the Bureau carried on its business through the bombing and rationing. Why should anyone think matchmaking via the internet of today is such a novel idea when The Marriage Bureau was doing it via index cards some eighty years ago. There's hope for everyone!

I really liked this book, very interesting characters.But I was very disappointed that one of the main characters was suddenly out of the picture.

It certainly wasn’t an academic treatise but I don’t think that was the intent. It was a true story written more like a novel. I thoroughly enjoyed it.