Of Love and War
By (Author) Vanessa Alexander
Headline Publishing Group
Headline Book Publishing
8th June 2001
New edition
United Kingdom
General
Fiction
823.914
320
Width 111mm, Height 20mm, Spine 175mm
169g
In 1921, Lieutenant Henry Gilpin is scouring the country seeking out those who, perhaps, did not do their best for king and country in the Great War. In the mining town of Crouden, Jack Aylward's name is on the top of his list. Many men never returned to Crouden from the mud of Northern France, the survivors are tragically altered. Gilpin may exorcise their ghosts, but he brings new terrors with his justice. Kitty Aylward watches in horror as he tears apart the lives of people she has loved and respected. After a wonderful childhood with her constant companions, Billy and Jack, Kitty had finally married Billy but before he left to fight Billy asked for one strange promise: if he should die, she must marry his closest friend. When her husband was killed kept her oath, but now she slowly realises that Gilpin could hold a terrible secret concerning Jack, and Billy's death.
'A powerful and poignant novel with echoes of BIRDSONG and GALLIPOLI, Vanessa Alexander's exuberant story of love, guilt and retribution vivdly captures the courage and tragedy of the Grea War's survivors as the face an uncertain future' Newcastle Evening Chronicle
Vanessa Alexander studied History at Oxford. She lives with her family in Essex.