{"product_id":"the-underling-9781999108137","title":"The Underling","description":"Ottawa, Canada, 1934. Seventeen-year old Frances McFadden is plucked from the tedium of school routine and the control of a domineering mother to work for the new Bank of Canada. Like many hard-working women of her generation, she comes to wield tremendous power without any of the trappings of authority. Many noble acts, some skinny-dipping. In late August 1939, Frances is sent on a secret mission to Warsaw, where the Polish gold reserves tempt a rapacious neighbour.Speaking of The Underling . . . \"...a sly mixture of fact and fiction, with characters well-drawn, dialogue fun and lively, the plot full of surprises, wit, and wisdom.\" -Allison Dingle Frances McFadden ... a compelling protagonist in a fiction crafted to be totally believable.\" - Pat Belyea\"I can't believe that I'm enjoying a novel based on banking \" - Marilyn Blattel \"... a fine read. Who would guess that the founding of the Bank of Canada could be made lively and exciting? Frances is a memorable character. The reader roots for her the whole way...would make a great mini-series for TV.\" - Brian DoyleI really like the novel's sense of how work can be fulfilling - particularly socially fulfilling. Working people build friendships and social networks that make their lives richer. I also felt that the \"coming of age of Canada\" aspect of the novel was well done - clear and important but not overstated.\"- Bob Neilson\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Ian McKercher","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50369963950354,"sku":"9781999108137","price":15.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_de5e87e3-7fc2-4ae4-bcf2-86dcd7d8de53.jpg?v=1728528572","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-underling-9781999108137","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}