Absolutely thrilled to be taking part in this exciting Blog Tour
In September 2019, to mark the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War, IWM will launch a wonderful new series with four novels from their archives all set during the Second World War – Imperial War Museums Wartime Classics.
Originally published to considerable acclaim, these titles were written either during or just after the Second World War and are currently out of print. Each novel is written directly from the author’s own experience and takes the reader right into the heart of the conflict. They all capture the awful absurdity of war and the trauma and chaos of battle as well as some of the fierce loyalties and black humour that can emerge in extraordinary circumstances.
Living through a time of great upheaval, as we are today, each wartime story brings the reality of war alive in a vivid and profoundly moving way and is a timely reminder of what the previous generations experienced.
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| IWM 26 September 2019 £8.99 Paperback My thanks to IWM and to Random Things Tours for my copy of this book and the invitation to be part of this blog tour |
From the City, From the Plough by Alexander Baron – A vivid and moving account of preparations for D-Day and the advance into Normandy. Published in the 75th anniversary year of the D-Day landings, this is based on the author’s first-hand experience of D-Day and has been described by Antony Beevor as ‘undoubtedly one of the very greatest British novels of the Second World War.’
My thoughts about it..
The events of D-Day, now so long ago, with only a handful of war veterans who were actually there, proves that this novel is all the more timely as it gives a fictional account of the build up to D-Day as seen through the eyes of the men who made up the 5th Battalion of the Wessex Regiment. This group of soldiers, like so many battalions, was drawn from all aspects of life, from those who arrived covered in the dust and grime of cities, to the country boys who were more at home wielding a scythe, or ploughing a field, and yet in exceptional circumstances, this band of brothers grouped together to form a cohesive whole.
From the City, From the Plough, is the author's fictional account of a situation he experienced at first hand as he was one of the soldiers to go across the channel around D-Day. He writes with authority about the inertia of the long hot summer of 1944 when the soldiers of the 5th Battalion were waiting for action. The novel instills such a sense of reality that there were times when I forgot that I was reading a fictional account as it feels more as if you are living through every second of the interminable waiting with them.
When the action finally starts to happen there's a real sense of horror as the men struggled with ferocious German bombardment and of the sheer hard slog of trying to keep one step ahead of an enemy who was as dangerous as it was unpredictable. The novel tells a powerful story and doesn't describe the men of the 5th battalion as anything other than soldiers with faults and failings, some good, some bad, some who were typical opportunists, who were out for themselves, and others who were inherently good blokes with a sense of patriotic duty.
The book was published in 1948 and its first print run of 3000 copies sold out before publication. Since then the book has sold over one million copies, and it is hoped that this new IWM edition will bring this powerful story to a whole new readership.
From the City, From the Plough brings D-Day to life in a story which breaks your heart into a million pieces and it is one which will stay with me for a very long time.
The events of D-Day, now so long ago, with only a handful of war veterans who were actually there, proves that this novel is all the more timely as it gives a fictional account of the build up to D-Day as seen through the eyes of the men who made up the 5th Battalion of the Wessex Regiment. This group of soldiers, like so many battalions, was drawn from all aspects of life, from those who arrived covered in the dust and grime of cities, to the country boys who were more at home wielding a scythe, or ploughing a field, and yet in exceptional circumstances, this band of brothers grouped together to form a cohesive whole.
From the City, From the Plough, is the author's fictional account of a situation he experienced at first hand as he was one of the soldiers to go across the channel around D-Day. He writes with authority about the inertia of the long hot summer of 1944 when the soldiers of the 5th Battalion were waiting for action. The novel instills such a sense of reality that there were times when I forgot that I was reading a fictional account as it feels more as if you are living through every second of the interminable waiting with them.
When the action finally starts to happen there's a real sense of horror as the men struggled with ferocious German bombardment and of the sheer hard slog of trying to keep one step ahead of an enemy who was as dangerous as it was unpredictable. The novel tells a powerful story and doesn't describe the men of the 5th battalion as anything other than soldiers with faults and failings, some good, some bad, some who were typical opportunists, who were out for themselves, and others who were inherently good blokes with a sense of patriotic duty.
The book was published in 1948 and its first print run of 3000 copies sold out before publication. Since then the book has sold over one million copies, and it is hoped that this new IWM edition will bring this powerful story to a whole new readership.
From the City, From the Plough brings D-Day to life in a story which breaks your heart into a million pieces and it is one which will stay with me for a very long time.
About the Author
Alexander Baron was a widely acclaimed author and screenwriter and his London novels have a wide following. From the City, From the Plough was his first novel was his first novel.
Twitter @I_W_M #wartimeclassics
@angelamarymar
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Thank you so much for this wonderful blog tour support Jo x
ReplyDeleteIt's been a pleasure to be involved, Anne. This is such a powerful story.
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