Ian McKercher

The Underling Ian McKercher

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