marriottphilip@hotmail.com
We purchased a copy of this book, on sale, from the author, outside a bookshop in East Grinstead, at the behest of my wife who read it first. What was surprising from the beginning was the use of the Historic Present tense to tell this story, It so reminded me of a screen play, which is very effective by drawing the reader, right into the story. I was deeply moved by the story and how it unfolds. And it makes me wonder about the extent of autobiographical content. The author, I believe, is now in his nineties, and the tale give me the feeling of a man late in life needing to record some of his life's history, in as safer way as can be done. The story begins in the prologue, where we meet our narrator, Peter, in the present day, who I might imagine as the Author. Chapter one moves on to Waterloo station, where soldiers are returning from the Boer War, And moves on through the 20th century, through the trials and tribulations of families as they unfold. Being almost 80 myself, with a long history, I found the story believable and compelling, and would dearly love to meet the Author again to discuss his life. People are endlessly fascinating. Read it! Do.
