When George, an eighteen year old postman, finds out that the girl he has lost his heart to loves another, his life changes forever. This is the day he gets drunk for the first time; the day he is shamfully scammed out of his week's pay; the day he decides, along with some new pals, that he will enlist in the army and serve in the ongoing Great War.
Judith Allnatt's novel is beautifully written. It's divided into three sections detailing events before, during and after George's army sojourn. The descriptive prose provides some glorious scenic detail of the idyllic rural north west of England as well as the harrowing brutality of trench life (and death).
For me, the novel started to run out of steam in its final third and I found the ending to be a little awkwardly realised. Overall, though, this is an enthralling read and is warmly recommended.
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