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That Summer
It is late June and the summer of 1940 is about to become the myth that will define a generation. When Len Westbourne, an inexperienced fighter pilot falls in love with Stella Gardam, a radar operator with a far more worldly attitude, they are all too aware that their time may be short as the War becomes an epic struggle between the Luftwaffe and the RAF - The Battle of Britain. Told in intimate, alternate chapters from the perspectives of Len and Stella, That Summer matures into a breathtaking a classic love story vividly evoking life during wartime.
269 pages, Paperback
First published July 9, 2001
8 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Greig
56 books86 followersAndrew Greig is a Scottish writer who grew up in Anstruther, Fife. He studied philosophy at the University of Edinburgh and is a former Glasgow University Writing Fellow and Scottish Arts Council Scottish/Canadian Exchange Fellow. He lives in Orkney and Edinburgh and is married to author Lesley Glaister.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
October 18, 2009
Just beautiful!
The immediacy of life during the Battle of Britain springs vividly from the pages of this beautifully narrated book. The main characters, Len and Stella, narrate their interactions, their feelings, as they live every minute as though it could be their last. And that is the reality of war.
Their most intimate thoughts are brilliantly brought to the reader so that you feel that you know their friends and acquaintances, especially Tad and Maddy, and you cannot help but care for them. They muse about their opposite numbers and this delicately bares the usually thorny subject of the futility of war and conflict.
Such a beautifully written story is bound to stir the emotions of any reader, and my memories of this book, both happy and sad, will remain with me for a long time.
I would strongly recommend this book to anyone, and I urge you not to deprive yourself. You won't regret the moment that you open this book and start reading. I guarantee it!
The immediacy of life during the Battle of Britain springs vividly from the pages of this beautifully narrated book. The main characters, Len and Stella, narrate their interactions, their feelings, as they live every minute as though it could be their last. And that is the reality of war.
Their most intimate thoughts are brilliantly brought to the reader so that you feel that you know their friends and acquaintances, especially Tad and Maddy, and you cannot help but care for them. They muse about their opposite numbers and this delicately bares the usually thorny subject of the futility of war and conflict.
Such a beautifully written story is bound to stir the emotions of any reader, and my memories of this book, both happy and sad, will remain with me for a long time.
I would strongly recommend this book to anyone, and I urge you not to deprive yourself. You won't regret the moment that you open this book and start reading. I guarantee it!
May 10, 2024
England im Sommer 1940: der Luftkampf um Großbritannien steht kurz bevor. In dieser Zeit treffen Stella, Maddie und die beiden Piloten Len und Tad bei einer Tanzveranstaltung aufeinander. Jeder der vier jungen Leute bringt eine andere Geschichte mit: Stella brach ihre Ausbildung zur Lehrerin ab um an den Radarschrimen zu arbeiten, Maddie ist ein Mädchen das nichts ernst zu nehmen scheint, Len tratt der Luftwaffe aus Begeisterung fürs Fliegen bei und der Pole Tad ist bei der britischen Luftwaffe um sich so an den Deutschen zu rächen die fast seine gesamte Familie ausgelöscht haben.
In der besonderen Stimmung der Ruhe vor dem großen Sturm verlieben sich die jungen Leute ineinander. Lens und Stellas Beziehung scheint von Anfang an für die Ewigkeit geschaffen zu sein während Tad und Maddie durch ihre Beziehung eher den Krieg um sie herum vergessen zu scheinen wollen. Doch auch ihre Liebe kann sie nicht beschützen. Während Tad und Len jeden Tag in der Luft um ihr Leben fürchten müssen erleben die Mädchen auch am Boden die Schrecken des Krieges...
Andrew Greig erzählt von vier Monaten im Leben von vier jungen Menschen. Jeder von ihnen geht mit dem Krieg auf eine andere Weise um. Stella macht sich oft Gedanken über das deutsche Fräulein das wie sie die Punkte auf dem Radarschirmen betrachtet, Maddie scheint alles auf die leichte Schulter zu nehmen und keinem Flirt abgeneigt zu sein, Len liest in jeder freien Minute und Tad sieht die Fliegerei anscheinend als großen Spaß an.
Keiner von ihnen redet über die Zukunft, sondern scheint nur in der Gegenwart zu leben. Sogar wenn einer der Kameraden abgeschossen wird ist er am nächsten Tag schon vergessen. Die Geschichte wird abwechselnd von Stella und Len erzählt, die die gleichen Ereignisse aus ihrer Sicht erzählen. Nur wenn sie eine zusammen sind scheint alles andere weit weg zu sein. Sie erleben ein paar gestohlene Tage weil Len bei einem Einsatz verletzt wird und Urlaub bekommt und auch Stella diese Tage frei bekommt. Die Rückkehr in den Krieg ist danach umso schwerer.
Auf dem Buch stand diese Bemerkung "It will be a long time since a book made you care so much". Zumindest auf mich trifft das voll und ganz zu. Andrew Greig beschreibt den Krieg aus der Sicht von vier vordergründig unterschiedlichen Menschen, die doch mehr gemeinsam haben als ihnen bewusst ist. Es ist ein sehr ruhiges Buch, das zum Nachdenken anregt. Eigentlich wie alle Bücher von Andrew Greig, doch dieses hier ist etwas ganz besonderes.
In der besonderen Stimmung der Ruhe vor dem großen Sturm verlieben sich die jungen Leute ineinander. Lens und Stellas Beziehung scheint von Anfang an für die Ewigkeit geschaffen zu sein während Tad und Maddie durch ihre Beziehung eher den Krieg um sie herum vergessen zu scheinen wollen. Doch auch ihre Liebe kann sie nicht beschützen. Während Tad und Len jeden Tag in der Luft um ihr Leben fürchten müssen erleben die Mädchen auch am Boden die Schrecken des Krieges...
Andrew Greig erzählt von vier Monaten im Leben von vier jungen Menschen. Jeder von ihnen geht mit dem Krieg auf eine andere Weise um. Stella macht sich oft Gedanken über das deutsche Fräulein das wie sie die Punkte auf dem Radarschirmen betrachtet, Maddie scheint alles auf die leichte Schulter zu nehmen und keinem Flirt abgeneigt zu sein, Len liest in jeder freien Minute und Tad sieht die Fliegerei anscheinend als großen Spaß an.
Keiner von ihnen redet über die Zukunft, sondern scheint nur in der Gegenwart zu leben. Sogar wenn einer der Kameraden abgeschossen wird ist er am nächsten Tag schon vergessen. Die Geschichte wird abwechselnd von Stella und Len erzählt, die die gleichen Ereignisse aus ihrer Sicht erzählen. Nur wenn sie eine zusammen sind scheint alles andere weit weg zu sein. Sie erleben ein paar gestohlene Tage weil Len bei einem Einsatz verletzt wird und Urlaub bekommt und auch Stella diese Tage frei bekommt. Die Rückkehr in den Krieg ist danach umso schwerer.
Auf dem Buch stand diese Bemerkung "It will be a long time since a book made you care so much". Zumindest auf mich trifft das voll und ganz zu. Andrew Greig beschreibt den Krieg aus der Sicht von vier vordergründig unterschiedlichen Menschen, die doch mehr gemeinsam haben als ihnen bewusst ist. Es ist ein sehr ruhiges Buch, das zum Nachdenken anregt. Eigentlich wie alle Bücher von Andrew Greig, doch dieses hier ist etwas ganz besonderes.
November 17, 2017
Len und Tadeusz ("Tad") lernen sich während der Luftschlacht um Großbritannien im Sommer 1940 auf dem Luftwaffenstützpunkt kennen. Tad kommt aus Polen und hat sich freiwillig der britischen Luftwaffe angeschlossen. Er tanzt und flirtet gerne, während Len ein eher stiller, nachdenklicher Typ ist.
Doch auch er verliebt sich in diesem Sommer, in Stella, eine junge Funkerin vom Stützpunkt, die sich ebenfalls über viele Dinge Gedanken macht und eher zurückhaltend ist, während Maddy, mit der sie seit einer Zufallsbegegnung befreundet ist, ähnlich wie Tadeusz gerne feiert, vielleicht gerade weil in dieser Zeit voller Bomben, Brände, Verluste und Leid das Leben so unsicher ist.
"That Summer" ist ein ruhiges Buch, das sich viel mit der Innenschau von Len und Stella beschäftigt und gleichzeitig, ohne je reißerisch zu werden, sehr realistisch vermittelt, was es bedeutet, mitten im Bombenkrieg zu leben - für die, die Bomberangriffe fliegen (etwa, wenn ein Pilot nach dem anderen aus Lens Fliegerstaffel im Laufe des Sommers nicht mehr vom Einsatz zurückkehrt und sich die wenigen Zurückbleibenden wie uralte Männer fühlen, die sämtliche Freunde überlebt haben) und für die, die von den Gegenangriffen betroffen sind (wobei mich da auch der historisch belegte Pragmatismus der Londoner beeindruckt hat, vor allem das Schild am Obstladen mit der kaputten Scheibe, "More open than usual" *g*).
Wie Len seinen Urlaub damit verbringt, ganz alleine durch seine geliebten Highlands zu wandern, ist genauso eindrucksvoll zu lesen, die wunderschön geschilderte Natur ist spürbar Balsam für seine kriegsgequälte Seele. Und auch die besonderen Belastungen, die eine Liebesbeziehung in Kriegszeiten aushalten muss, bringt Greig sehr einfühlsam rüber, ohne auch nur einmal ins Kitschige und allzu Sentimentale abzugleiten.
Ein wirklich schönes Buch, das seinen Reiz erst nach und nach entfaltet und mich am Ende noch einmal richtig ergriffen hat.
Doch auch er verliebt sich in diesem Sommer, in Stella, eine junge Funkerin vom Stützpunkt, die sich ebenfalls über viele Dinge Gedanken macht und eher zurückhaltend ist, während Maddy, mit der sie seit einer Zufallsbegegnung befreundet ist, ähnlich wie Tadeusz gerne feiert, vielleicht gerade weil in dieser Zeit voller Bomben, Brände, Verluste und Leid das Leben so unsicher ist.
"That Summer" ist ein ruhiges Buch, das sich viel mit der Innenschau von Len und Stella beschäftigt und gleichzeitig, ohne je reißerisch zu werden, sehr realistisch vermittelt, was es bedeutet, mitten im Bombenkrieg zu leben - für die, die Bomberangriffe fliegen (etwa, wenn ein Pilot nach dem anderen aus Lens Fliegerstaffel im Laufe des Sommers nicht mehr vom Einsatz zurückkehrt und sich die wenigen Zurückbleibenden wie uralte Männer fühlen, die sämtliche Freunde überlebt haben) und für die, die von den Gegenangriffen betroffen sind (wobei mich da auch der historisch belegte Pragmatismus der Londoner beeindruckt hat, vor allem das Schild am Obstladen mit der kaputten Scheibe, "More open than usual" *g*).
Wie Len seinen Urlaub damit verbringt, ganz alleine durch seine geliebten Highlands zu wandern, ist genauso eindrucksvoll zu lesen, die wunderschön geschilderte Natur ist spürbar Balsam für seine kriegsgequälte Seele. Und auch die besonderen Belastungen, die eine Liebesbeziehung in Kriegszeiten aushalten muss, bringt Greig sehr einfühlsam rüber, ohne auch nur einmal ins Kitschige und allzu Sentimentale abzugleiten.
Ein wirklich schönes Buch, das seinen Reiz erst nach und nach entfaltet und mich am Ende noch einmal richtig ergriffen hat.
March 1, 2018
This moved me. It's a romance set in an historical period I'm very much interest in and was curious. Greig's research and beautiful prose took me back there. If you love romance, if you love historical fiction, you'll love this.
September 22, 2022
Interesting story around the Battle of England. Believable characters. I would have enjoyed the book more, if the style would have been different. It was written mostly in first person, alternating between the two main characters, but without clearly defined chapters. Sometimes there was no way of telling who’s storyline is on until well into the page.
September 11, 2018
This novel tells the story of the relationship between an RAF pilot, Len Westbourne, and a RDF (radar) ground-controller, Stella Gardam,during the summer of 1940, in what would later be referred to as the Battle of Britain.
Set against a war-time background 'That Summer' is a well crafted love story full of both joy and sorrow. The story is told in first person narrative from the viewpoint of each of the main characters in short punchy chapters with each of the lovers narrating different sections.
I felt that Greig managed to vividly evoke the immediacy of life at the time, in particular that of the fighter pilots. There is an intensity to it as each one of them lives life to its full. Greig explores the hearts and minds of his characters, in doing so, turns this into a novel about what it means to enjoy life whilst you can at the same time bringing home the reality of the randomness of war.
This is not some nostalgic piece of work but a very contemporary one. You cannot help to care about Len and Stella, their friends Tad and Maddy, willing them all to survive unscathed against all the odds and we, the modern day reader, get a possible insight into the hopes and dreams for the future, after the war, of those that were actually there. Simple dreams of families and setting down roots.
The book does not glorify war but rather the futility of it. Overall I felt that this was a very well written and thoughtful piece of work from an author that I had not previously picked up.
Set against a war-time background 'That Summer' is a well crafted love story full of both joy and sorrow. The story is told in first person narrative from the viewpoint of each of the main characters in short punchy chapters with each of the lovers narrating different sections.
I felt that Greig managed to vividly evoke the immediacy of life at the time, in particular that of the fighter pilots. There is an intensity to it as each one of them lives life to its full. Greig explores the hearts and minds of his characters, in doing so, turns this into a novel about what it means to enjoy life whilst you can at the same time bringing home the reality of the randomness of war.
This is not some nostalgic piece of work but a very contemporary one. You cannot help to care about Len and Stella, their friends Tad and Maddy, willing them all to survive unscathed against all the odds and we, the modern day reader, get a possible insight into the hopes and dreams for the future, after the war, of those that were actually there. Simple dreams of families and setting down roots.
The book does not glorify war but rather the futility of it. Overall I felt that this was a very well written and thoughtful piece of work from an author that I had not previously picked up.
May 28, 2021
A beautifully nuanced story of the Battle of Britain in the summer of 1940. Stella and Len are both deeply involved in the effort (as most people were in Britain then), he as a fighter pilot and she as a radar operator. Details of the war are many, but their personal relationship holds an equal place in the novel. The descriptions of nature are gorgeous.
February 13, 2012
A few months in the summer of the Battle of Britain. I really enjoyed this. Len and Stella were engaging and sympathetic. I felt it was a little cliched at the end, almost too expected. Still it gave a personal perspective on being in the war that was quite believable.
August 31, 2020
My sister's father-in-law was a young man in the RAF during WWII. I met this man on several occasions and was always struck by his intelligence, kindness, gentleness, and the positive outlook he had on life.
That Summer is the summer of 1942 where a young man becomes a pilot in the RAF. We follow him in the cockpit in hot pursuits of German bombers, at the airfield where there is nothing to do but wait, and in his leaves with the woman he loves.
that woman is also involved in the war effort as a scanner, looking at a green screen for little blobs that would be German planes flying towards England. Although knowing full well that there are very few chances that her lover will survive the war, the odds being so against it, she can't help but fall for him.
It was such a revelation to imagine the gentleman we know as a similar young man.
That Summer is the summer of 1942 where a young man becomes a pilot in the RAF. We follow him in the cockpit in hot pursuits of German bombers, at the airfield where there is nothing to do but wait, and in his leaves with the woman he loves.
that woman is also involved in the war effort as a scanner, looking at a green screen for little blobs that would be German planes flying towards England. Although knowing full well that there are very few chances that her lover will survive the war, the odds being so against it, she can't help but fall for him.
It was such a revelation to imagine the gentleman we know as a similar young man.
September 4, 2022
Beautifully written, this book describes a crucial moment in the history of WW2, around the Battle of Britain, through the eyes of two people. It brings a personal, realistic and emotional perspective to a familiar story, letting us see it with fresh eyes. I was very moved. The book was hard to get hold of, which is a shame, as it deserves wide and continuing readership.
January 23, 2018
A wartime story that's both touching and exciting. The essence of the times is vividly brought to life by two narrative points of view and there were moments where I thought the prose was simply perfect. Highly recommend this novel.
April 16, 2021
Sorry, not enjoyable for me, I couldn't finish it in fact.
It probably had every cliche about the Battle Of Britain you could imagine plus the first person narrative alternated between the two main characters which I found quite annoying.
It probably had every cliche about the Battle Of Britain you could imagine plus the first person narrative alternated between the two main characters which I found quite annoying.
November 3, 2017
Beautiful. And heartbreaking.....
August 17, 2021
Just beautiful - story, prose, the feelings you're left with, all of it.
February 10, 2022
Life during WW2 in the UK and how it impacted on the lives of young adults- those who put their hands up to defend their homeland.A good read...
January 16, 2012
Imagine my surprise when I showed my husband that I was reading this, and he brought out his own, recently-purchased copy. Now that I've read it (he hasn't yet) I can say that it was my kind of book, but I don't know if it will be his.
The premise of "That Summer" is the contemplation of whether it's wise to open yourself to new relationships when the next month, week, day, hour, minute is uncertain. Stella is a WAAF learning how to read those blips and dashes on her screen, and Len is an RAF Hurricane pilot. They and their friends navigate unknown territory during the Summer of 1940, during bombing raids, dogfights, blackouts and other new, frightening experiences. There are pleasures to be had, as well, and you get a good feeling for how these young people escaped their fears for a few hours or days if they could.
When I finished the book, my husband turned to me and said "so? Did we win the Battle of Britain?" I laughed, but really, "That Summer" isn't even about that. It's about so much more.
The premise of "That Summer" is the contemplation of whether it's wise to open yourself to new relationships when the next month, week, day, hour, minute is uncertain. Stella is a WAAF learning how to read those blips and dashes on her screen, and Len is an RAF Hurricane pilot. They and their friends navigate unknown territory during the Summer of 1940, during bombing raids, dogfights, blackouts and other new, frightening experiences. There are pleasures to be had, as well, and you get a good feeling for how these young people escaped their fears for a few hours or days if they could.
When I finished the book, my husband turned to me and said "so? Did we win the Battle of Britain?" I laughed, but really, "That Summer" isn't even about that. It's about so much more.
August 1, 2014
It's a great book. Andrew Greig was able to show beauty amidst the adversity of war. Even a realist would find the love of Stella and Len something worthy of a praise.
However, the beauty that the author showed was reciprocated by the devastation people felt during the war, which was showcased very well in the book. There are characters that will die first before you actually know them in the story.
The story is short and fast-paced, just like life itself during a war.
I'm sorry for such a short feedback for the book, but this clearly summarizes just how I felt after reading it.
BTW, this quote got me some feels. There's just so much feeling in it:
"Lord, when this war is over, we'll want non-events. We'll not talk about it to our children and we'll try to give them the luxury of boredom, to make life so safe they'll probably rebel and make something of their own. But not war, God, not war"
However, the beauty that the author showed was reciprocated by the devastation people felt during the war, which was showcased very well in the book. There are characters that will die first before you actually know them in the story.
The story is short and fast-paced, just like life itself during a war.
I'm sorry for such a short feedback for the book, but this clearly summarizes just how I felt after reading it.
BTW, this quote got me some feels. There's just so much feeling in it:
"Lord, when this war is over, we'll want non-events. We'll not talk about it to our children and we'll try to give them the luxury of boredom, to make life so safe they'll probably rebel and make something of their own. But not war, God, not war"
July 12, 2012
There is something of Neville Shute, a bit of John Buchan and plenty of Andrew Greig in this. He uses the first and third person narrative form of the two main characters to produce a satisfyingly complete novel. It is very effective. Much has been written about the time of the Battle of Britain, but this story is fresh - and gives rise to reflection on the situation in Britain and Europe today. Above all, it is about young people living with the knowledge that there may well be no tomorrow. As one expects from this author, one gets to care deeply about them.
August 11, 2014
A sweet sweet book about a RAF pilot and a radar operator who meet and fall in lover under the auspices of the London Blitz. A poet, Andrew Greig's book is well written and endearing. His portrayal of wartime Britain is fully detailed and he shows the indomitable spirit of the Brits during this horrible time. I really loved the love story between Len, the RAF pilot, and Stella, the radar operator who meet, date and then fall in love. It is a simple book that really resonates. Just loved it.
January 28, 2016
The blurb says "It will be a long time since a book has made you care so much" and I thought "Yeah right we'll see about that" but halfway in it comes true. This book made me cry more than once, and it made me suprise myself by calling out anxious "No!"s several times. I like Andrew Greig's way of writing, it isn't very striking or fancy, there's seldom a word too many and it works wonderfully.
April 12, 2010
There are books about the Battle of Britain, and there are love stories - but there won't be many books which combine both, and certainly not with the artistry that Andrew Greig manages.
There is an inevitability about the outcome - but this doesn't denigrate at all from the finely crafted tale out author weaves. I loved it - a real anatomy of a relationship,set in a unique period of history.
There is an inevitability about the outcome - but this doesn't denigrate at all from the finely crafted tale out author weaves. I loved it - a real anatomy of a relationship,set in a unique period of history.
December 2, 2012
An immersion in 1940s war time England - the power of love and friendships to get through the most miserable of times. A wonderful story that conveyed the excitment, the frustration and the sorrow of war.
November 18, 2009
Ordinairy people doing very very extraordinairy things.I got a clear picture of people accepting that their day jobs involved ambiguous decisions on which you or others lived or died.
August 16, 2011
This gives the feeling of living the battle of Britain one day at a time along with the people in the book and subtly charts the psychological changes of the protagonists during 'That Summer'.
October 9, 2012
An outstanding evocation of wartime Britain: vivid, compelling and also deeply moving. Andrew Greig is one of the UK’s most accomplished living writers, and this may well be his finest work to date.
May 20, 2018
Heart in mouth throughout the reading of this, because I could not remember how it ended. So vivid and alive the time of telling.So tender the emotions evoked.
Read
April 11, 2013y.
June 17, 2014
Love this novel, so gentle in such a brutal time.
I enjoyed how the storyline unfolded...a chapter by each main character.
Beautifully written.
I enjoyed how the storyline unfolded...a chapter by each main character.
Beautifully written.
October 28, 2016
Poignant window into the lives of those who loved and lived through the battle of britain.
July 22, 2019
This book was a wonderful read. It flowed beautifully excluding 1 chapter, but even then I understood it slowed the pace. Loved this book and will read again. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews