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The Storms of War by Kate Williams (view source)
Revision as of 13:33, 14 September 2020
, 13:33, 14 September 2020no edit summary
{{infoboxinfobox1
|title=The Storms of War
|sort=Storms of War, The
|publisher=Orion
|date=March 2015
|summary=Deeply researched and intelligently written, "The Storms of War" brings Edwardian England to life - life overshadowed by the war that is recreated here in vivid and visceral fashion. Historical fiction that mostly manages to be both cerebral and educational without feeling dull.
|cover=1409144887
|aznuk=1409144887
|aznus=1409144887
}}
England - 1914. The de Witt family live in Stoneythorpe Hall, an English manor that allows them to lead lives of relative luxury. Behind the ornate doors and heavy drapes of the house though, things are less than ideal - the approaching shadow of war makes things increasingly difficult for German born Rudolf, and Verena struggles to find her role in both the home and society. With their sons studying, one daughter marrying and one fast growing up, war will change all that these people know, and force them to either adapt, or suffer untold consequences.
Kate Williams is a Historianhistorian, Television Presenter television presenter and Authorauthor, with a number of very successful books to her name, including a fantastic biography of Lord Nelson's mistress, Emma Hamilton. A first fiction novel ''[[The Pleasures of Men by Kate Williams|The Pleasures of Men'' ]] arrived in 2012, and was a dark look at the grimy Victorian underbelly of London - and a decent read to boot.
''The Storms of War'' is a lighter read - but one that is nonetheless a dark and stormy one. A book that is essentially in two parts, we come to know the family as they deal with the ever approaching war, and then we follow them as they are plunged into it - and see the horrors of war torn France, the trenches, and the difficulties of living in a country that has suddenly become hostile to all of your nationality. Some reviews have compared this to ''Downton Abbey'', and others ''Atonement'' - and I understand both, although this feels somewhat more realistic than the heightened soapiness of Downton, and blends light and shade better than the wonderful but heartily depressing ''Atonement''.
A good book, and a must for those interested in this period of history - many thanks to the publishers for the copy.
As mentioned above, [[Atonement by Ian McEwan]] is a dark and rather disturbing read, but nevertheless is an excellent exploration of war, betrayal and guilt. Set in the Second World War rather than the Great War in which ''The Storms of War'' is set, it is a moving and character -driven story that follows a young woman over the course of several years. You might also enjoy [[The Tale of Raw Head and Bloody Bones by Jack Wolf]].
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