Letters from the Coffin Trenches

by Ken Catran

Poignant YA historical romance between a teen who runs away to fight in World War One, and his sweetheart back at home. Harry Wainwright is 17, not quite 18, but he can't wait to enlist for the Great War - so instead of going back to boarding school he runs away to war. He does this with the help of his sweetheart, Jessica. They are a wholesome Edwardian couple, steeped in all the respectable morality of their age. Both are in love with romance. Their letters begin idealistically and enthusiastically but gradually both young people learn of the horror of war and its associated cynicism. Rather than a depressing read, this is an interesting chronicle of the times and a charming portrayal of innocent love. Finalist in the Senior fiction category of the NZ Post Children's Book Awards 2003.

Genres: World War I, Historical Fiction, War, Young Adult

Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Ken Catran is a children's novelist and television screenwriter from New Zealand. He is the author of many teen novels, including Taken at the Flood, Voyage with Jason, Doomfire on Venus, Space Wolf, Talking to Blue and its sequel Blue Murder. He is perhaps best known for his Deepwater trilogy series

Reviews

[Glenys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica and Harry correspond with each other when Harry goes to war. Jessica is keen to do her part and signs up to be a nurse rather than continue at school. Harry gives very descriptive narrative of war in the trenches, the Turks, his officers and everyday life for soldiers in this situation. Jessica does well in her nursing and is seconded to Egypt to tend the wounded which gives them a chance to meet up. Following the war their letters are collected and passed along to family members eventually coming to a person who collates them for this book along with letter from "Hooter" Harry befriended him on the train on his way to training and Harry's commanding officer. Mention of Spanish Flu pandemic which decimates the survivors and families throughout Europe and on a ship heading to NZ.

[Rhondda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a (fictional) personal account of the Gallipoli Campaign from two young New Zealanders. It is written in the form of a packet of documents, rediscovered and sent to the Alexander Turnbull Library. Most of the documents are letters exchanged between Harry, an idealistic young New Zealand volunteer, and his girlfriend Jess.
Henry Wainwright is not quite 18 but he can't wait to join up. Instead of going back to his boarding school, he runs away and enlists in the army. His sweetheart, Jessica, assists him in this venture. Both are respectable young Edwardian people and in love with the romance of it all.
Their letters begin enthusiastically and idealistically but gradually Harry and Jess begin to lose their illusions as the reality of the war, and its cynicism, bites home. Both young people have to endure tiresome training, Harry as a soldier and Jess as an army nurse. They both then find reality more horrifying than anything they could have imagined. They cope well but are changed forever. 'Both of us have learned things we once knew nothing of,' writes Harry.
The in-depth research done by Ken Catran into this subject is again evident in the authentic ring of the letters. They are full of convincing details of civilian life in New Zealand, of the hospital routines and the military life in the time of the Great War. After Chunuk Bair, the narrative moves swiftly and with little sentiment to its tragic conclusion. The last few letters really strike at the emotions of readers. There is a link here to an earlier novel written by the author about WWI, ‘Jacko Moran, sniper’.
As was the case in Australia, this war had a tremendous social cost to a small, young nation and it has also played a part in the development of New Zealand’s national awareness. Ken Catran’s books always assist readers in developing their understanding of the consequences of such major upheavals in ordinary life.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is an exchange of letters, mainly between seventeen-year-old Harry and Jessica. When war breaks out, both want to serve their country, New Zealand, against the Huns despite being under-aged. Jessica drops out of school to become a nurse's aide, while Harry enlists in the army instead of going back to boarding school. Before long he finds himself at Gallipoli.

At first the letters Jessica and Harry exchange are carefree and romantic, but gradually there is a shift in tone as they both come face-to-face with the stark realities of war and death.

For letters supposedly written by seventeen-year-olds they were extremely articulate and showed a great depth of maturity, which I didn't find totally believable. However, I still enjoyed the book and felt that it captured the essence of the time.

[Melinda Szymanik · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find the first World War a fascinating period and thought this book did justice to the subject. Well written if a little muted at times, the main characters drew me in and the ending packed a wallop. Tissues are definitely required. I did think the ending was a little too severe even if this reflected reality but on the whole I thought this very good.