The SecondLast Woman in England Author:Maggie Joel . It's 1952 and for England, it's a brave and bright new world. The Depression is over, the War is over, even the endless bloody rationing is nearly over, and the future looks as lovely as the young Queen Elizabeth, is due to be crowned next June. Mrs. Harriett Wallis, for one, cannot wait for tomorrow.  ... more »;Her husband has an important job with an important firm, the children are settling in with the new nanny, the new fashions are terrifically flattering, and the War -grubby, grim, ghastly- is done. It's done! Life is going to be just killingly wonderful.
Unfortunately, it's also going to be short: In just a few months, Mrs. Harriet Wallis will become the second-to-last woman in England to be sentenced to death.« less