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The Storms of War Trilogy #1
The Storms of War
In the idyllic early summer of 1914, life is good for the de Witt family. Rudolf and Verena are planning the wedding of their daughter, Emmeline, while their eldest son Arthur is studying in Paris and Tom is just back from his first term at Cambridge. Celia, the youngest of the de Witt children, is on the brink of adulthood, and secretly dreams of escaping her carefully mapped out future and exploring the world.
But the onslaught of war changes everything and soon the de Witts find themselves sidelined and in danger of losing everything they hold dear. As Celia struggles to make sense of the changing world around her, she lies about her age to join the war effort and finds herself embroiled in a complex plot that puts her and those she loves in danger.
With gripping detail and brilliant empathy, Kate Williams tells the story of Celia and her family as they are shunned by a society that previously embraced them, torn apart by sorrow, and buffeted and changed by the storms of war.
But the onslaught of war changes everything and soon the de Witts find themselves sidelined and in danger of losing everything they hold dear. As Celia struggles to make sense of the changing world around her, she lies about her age to join the war effort and finds herself embroiled in a complex plot that puts her and those she loves in danger.
With gripping detail and brilliant empathy, Kate Williams tells the story of Celia and her family as they are shunned by a society that previously embraced them, torn apart by sorrow, and buffeted and changed by the storms of war.
528 pages, Hardcover
First published July 3, 2014
82 people are currently reading
3475 people want to read
About the author
Kate Williams
49 books582 followersHello! Thank you for visiting my page. It's a great privilege to be on here - and to say hi to readers. Thank you very much for all your support and interest in my books! My twitter account is @katewilliamsme and I have a facebook page for Kate Williams author, come and say hello! I'm always thrilled to hear from you and your thoughts about my work.
I grew up in a very modern house in a dormitory village in the Midlands- and as a consequence became completely obsessed by the past. When I was about six, we got a new washing machine - and I took the huge cardboard box, covered it in silver foil and told my little brother it was a time machine. I used to rumble it about and tell him 'Look! We're in Egypt in the time of the pyramids - but you can't get out!' So he had to listen to all the stories inside, my poor brother...
'One of Britain's best young historians', Independent.
'Historian Extraordinaire', The Today Programme, Radio 4
'Queen of historical fiction' and 'History at its best', Guardian
'Unforgettable', (the book, not me!), The Lady.
'Gripping, seductive', The Times
I'm still looking for that time machine - and still living in it, really as I am obsessed by history.
Thanks so much for coming with me in my time machine.....
My latest novel, Edge of the Fall, is about the DeWitt family in the 1920s as they try to make sense of their lives in the aftermath of the war. It's the Flapper Age - and everything is in flux. As Kirkus puts it, there is ' a beautiful socialite threatened by a stranger, a murder trial and a baby born out of wedlock' - 'strange disappearances, unexplained deaths, dramatic births and a juicy court case' Grazia
'Brilliant', Daily Mail
'Gripping from the first page', 'Thrilling' 'a must read', Grazia
'Imbued with a sharp awarenss of the devastating effects of war in any era, Williams' novel presents sympathetic characters who transcend history', Kirkus
My previous novel, The Storms of War, is the first in a trilogy about the de Witt family. The first explores their lives from 1914-1918, as the youngest girl, Celia, sees her perfect world crumble and change. I've wanted to write about the wars since I visited the trenches in France when I was ten on a school trip. I was fascinated by how small they were - and how men could ever live in such places. I really wanted to go into the lives of Germans - the Victorians couldn't get enough of them. Then - almost overnight - they were the enemy and people saw German spies everywhere and the newspapers demanded that all Germans in the country be imprisoned. At the beginning of the book, Rudolf and Verena have four children - and their lives will never be the same again.
'Quietly impressive...hard to put down....Gripping, thoughtful, heartbreaking and above all human', Kirkus (starred review)
'truly affecting...richly detailed, light of foot..tantalises with loose ends and disturbs with shocking shadows', Independent
'Fans of Dowton Abbey will love it, as do I', Alison Weir
'Vivid....fascinating,' Observer
My most recent history book was in 2013, Josephine: Desire, Ambition, Napoleon (UK) and 'Ambition and Desire: the Dangerous Life of Josephine Bonaparte' (US). It has been optioned by Ecosse Films (Nowhere Boy, Mrs Brown) and they are working on the script now.
'I send you a thousand kisses, but send me none back because they set my soul on fire', wrote Napoleon to Josephine.
In 2012, my book about Elizabeth II, 'Young Elizabeth' was published, exploring the Princess's life before she became Queen - and how the abdication of Edward VIII changed her world. In 2011, I co-wrote The Ring and the Crown with Alison Weir, Tracy Borman and Sarah Gristwood about the history of royal weddings.
My previous novel,The Pleasures of Men, about Catherine Sorgeiul, a young woman in 1840 who terrifies herself with her obsession with a murderer, appeared in 2012. I began writing the book while living in Paris, one
I grew up in a very modern house in a dormitory village in the Midlands- and as a consequence became completely obsessed by the past. When I was about six, we got a new washing machine - and I took the huge cardboard box, covered it in silver foil and told my little brother it was a time machine. I used to rumble it about and tell him 'Look! We're in Egypt in the time of the pyramids - but you can't get out!' So he had to listen to all the stories inside, my poor brother...
'One of Britain's best young historians', Independent.
'Historian Extraordinaire', The Today Programme, Radio 4
'Queen of historical fiction' and 'History at its best', Guardian
'Unforgettable', (the book, not me!), The Lady.
'Gripping, seductive', The Times
I'm still looking for that time machine - and still living in it, really as I am obsessed by history.
Thanks so much for coming with me in my time machine.....
My latest novel, Edge of the Fall, is about the DeWitt family in the 1920s as they try to make sense of their lives in the aftermath of the war. It's the Flapper Age - and everything is in flux. As Kirkus puts it, there is ' a beautiful socialite threatened by a stranger, a murder trial and a baby born out of wedlock' - 'strange disappearances, unexplained deaths, dramatic births and a juicy court case' Grazia
'Brilliant', Daily Mail
'Gripping from the first page', 'Thrilling' 'a must read', Grazia
'Imbued with a sharp awarenss of the devastating effects of war in any era, Williams' novel presents sympathetic characters who transcend history', Kirkus
My previous novel, The Storms of War, is the first in a trilogy about the de Witt family. The first explores their lives from 1914-1918, as the youngest girl, Celia, sees her perfect world crumble and change. I've wanted to write about the wars since I visited the trenches in France when I was ten on a school trip. I was fascinated by how small they were - and how men could ever live in such places. I really wanted to go into the lives of Germans - the Victorians couldn't get enough of them. Then - almost overnight - they were the enemy and people saw German spies everywhere and the newspapers demanded that all Germans in the country be imprisoned. At the beginning of the book, Rudolf and Verena have four children - and their lives will never be the same again.
'Quietly impressive...hard to put down....Gripping, thoughtful, heartbreaking and above all human', Kirkus (starred review)
'truly affecting...richly detailed, light of foot..tantalises with loose ends and disturbs with shocking shadows', Independent
'Fans of Dowton Abbey will love it, as do I', Alison Weir
'Vivid....fascinating,' Observer
My most recent history book was in 2013, Josephine: Desire, Ambition, Napoleon (UK) and 'Ambition and Desire: the Dangerous Life of Josephine Bonaparte' (US). It has been optioned by Ecosse Films (Nowhere Boy, Mrs Brown) and they are working on the script now.
'I send you a thousand kisses, but send me none back because they set my soul on fire', wrote Napoleon to Josephine.
In 2012, my book about Elizabeth II, 'Young Elizabeth' was published, exploring the Princess's life before she became Queen - and how the abdication of Edward VIII changed her world. In 2011, I co-wrote The Ring and the Crown with Alison Weir, Tracy Borman and Sarah Gristwood about the history of royal weddings.
My previous novel,The Pleasures of Men, about Catherine Sorgeiul, a young woman in 1840 who terrifies herself with her obsession with a murderer, appeared in 2012. I began writing the book while living in Paris, one
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
March 1, 2016
Aside from the fact that the main protagonist is an idiot, The Storms of War does show a raw and realistic look at Europe during WWI. I especially was swayed by the story of Michael and wanted more chapters of him and his experiences. In fact, that storyline along with the last chapter really pressures me to give it a four. But I cannot and Celia is the reason.
Why? While I do recognize that young women of this time period were incredibly naive, sheltered and protected, I never felt that Celia was her age. Personally, I would have been more inclined to believe her to be eight or nine based on how she spoke and acted. Second, her own experiences during the war shape her very little. The most shocking part of the book is that she's exactly as self-centered and clueless as she was at the beginning of the book.
I really hate to be so negative because the exploration of so many other themes in the book are very interesting and really are the elements the author wishes to bring to our attention. I would still encourage others to give it a chance.
Why? While I do recognize that young women of this time period were incredibly naive, sheltered and protected, I never felt that Celia was her age. Personally, I would have been more inclined to believe her to be eight or nine based on how she spoke and acted. Second, her own experiences during the war shape her very little. The most shocking part of the book is that she's exactly as self-centered and clueless as she was at the beginning of the book.
I really hate to be so negative because the exploration of so many other themes in the book are very interesting and really are the elements the author wishes to bring to our attention. I would still encourage others to give it a chance.
November 27, 2015
I can think of quite a few novels - many of them recently-published - that are set during World War I. In such a crowded field, it cannot be easy for a writer to come up with a fresh perspective on the events of 1914-18. And, to be honest, historian and novelist Kate Williams doesn't really manage to do so. 'The Storms of War', the first book of a planned trilogy, is slightly different from many others of its kind in that it examines the impact of the war on a middle-class family of German origin who are living in Britain. But, while reading it, I could not escape the feeling that it's somewhat derivative and unoriginal. Despite its slightly unusual angle, it's firmly rooted in Pat Barker, Louisa Young and Elizabeth Speller territory. It's an engaging enough read, but it lacks that oomph factor that would make it stand out from the other novels I have read about World War I. At more than 500 pages, it's also too long. It's a competent novel but it runs out of steam. It failed to hold my interest in the latter half of the story. I think that was because Williams's prose just doesn't leap off the page. The characterisation is good. I liked Celia, one of the daughters of the wealthy De Witt family. The depiction of her year in France driving ambulances is vivid and realistic. The description of life in the trenches is also well done. I would be happy to read the two other books in this series. But, when all is said and done, 'The Storms of War' is a good, but not great, novel. 6/10.
June 29, 2016
5+++ Stars!!
If you read Historical Fiction then you MUST read The Storms of War!!!
This book is written about a family (the De Witt family) in the Great War...the women facing disease and death daily, the people left behind at home, their possessions destroyed by bombs, and the waiting for news about their loved ones.
What was the Great War, or any war really like?? This is a fabulous story of what isn't said or shared of war and what the people do not share with each other.
The author writes about how thousands of Germans lived happily in Britain. The held respectable jobs and married British woman and their children were born in Britain. When war broke out they were hated, required to register, give up their means of travel (cars) and then put in to prisons.
This book is about losing everything you hold dear and still find a way to continue.
Just do yourself a favor...READ all about The De Witt Chronicles!!
Plus as an added bonus...YAY!!! The story of the de Witt family will continue next year following their fortunes from 1918 to 1927. I cannot wait!
This is the best book I have read so far in 2015 and I may add the best in several years of reading!!!!
If you read Historical Fiction then you MUST read The Storms of War!!!
This book is written about a family (the De Witt family) in the Great War...the women facing disease and death daily, the people left behind at home, their possessions destroyed by bombs, and the waiting for news about their loved ones.
What was the Great War, or any war really like?? This is a fabulous story of what isn't said or shared of war and what the people do not share with each other.
The author writes about how thousands of Germans lived happily in Britain. The held respectable jobs and married British woman and their children were born in Britain. When war broke out they were hated, required to register, give up their means of travel (cars) and then put in to prisons.
This book is about losing everything you hold dear and still find a way to continue.
Just do yourself a favor...READ all about The De Witt Chronicles!!
Plus as an added bonus...YAY!!! The story of the de Witt family will continue next year following their fortunes from 1918 to 1927. I cannot wait!
This is the best book I have read so far in 2015 and I may add the best in several years of reading!!!!
March 11, 2017
During the long, golden summer of 1914, members of a wealthy British family spend their days at leisure on their expansive Hampshire estate. While the eldest daughter, beautiful Emmeline, dreams of her wedding to Sir Hugh Bradshaw, her mother, Verena, directs the servants in planning their annual summer party, to which the village children will be invited. Son Michael, home from Cambridge, has brought his American friend Jonathan to stay for a short visit. The youngest, fifteen-year-old Celia – her father’s favorite – spends time with her beloved horse and with Tom, the family’s groom, a secret friendship her friends and parents would find inappropriate.
Before long, as readers know, war will be declared, the social order will crumble, and life at Stoneythorpe Hall will be forever changed.
So far, so familiar. The basic scenario has played out in numerous historical novels and at least one iconic TV show. However, this outline omits a few important facts that helps Kate Williams’ The Storms of War carve out an original niche in this well-worn turf. The de Witt family patriarch is a tradesman, and he was born in Germany. The middle-aged Sir Hugh, who takes snobbery to rude extremes, looks past his fiancée’s background because he needs her family’s money, which comes from canned meat production.
Furthermore, the de Witts had purchased Stoneythorpe from an elderly aristocratic lady five years earlier, and their new neighbors resent them. To be more specific, the townspeople hate them, a situation that becomes cruelly obvious after war breaks out and anything (and anyone) German is shunned. Despite their loyalty to England, their connections to Germany affects each of them in ways that are sometimes predictable, sometimes the opposite.
The Storms of War, first in a proposed trilogy about the de Witt family, spans the five years of WWI and narrows its focus to the viewpoints of Celia and Michael, mostly the former. We know from the prologue that Michael will find himself at the Somme, forced to lead his men “over the top” despite shell-shock and crippling anxiety. What he endures overseas is as harrowing as expected but isn't without elements of surprise.
Even more penetrating, though, are Celia’s experiences driving ambulances in France (and yes, she’s underage, so how she achieves this is a story in itself). Basing Celia’s wartime service on primary source accounts, Williams makes readers feel Celia's utter terror as she drives the unfamiliar vehicle in the pitch dark, exhausted, with wounded soldiers wailing at every bump in the road. How she accomplishes Celia’s transformation from naïve adolescent unable to conceive of a servant-free life to disillusioned, war-weary veteran over the course of 500 pages is masterful and convincing.
As several characters relate on occasion, the British royals are also of German origin, but comparisons to their country’s highest-ranking citizens don’t benefit the de Witts in the least. While these reminders provide additional context for the times the characters are living through, the royal genealogy gets a bit garbled (the Kaiser was Queen Victoria’s grandson, not her nephew). It also feels odd for the de Witt children to refer to their parents by their first names at times. Although their perspectives aren’t shown firsthand, the novel shows how Rudolf, Verena, and Emmeline are changed by the war as well.
This is a hefty, epic read, but the confident storytelling makes it easy to get carried into the de Witts’ world. For those who enjoy it and want more, the sequel, The Edge of the Fall, is already out.
First reviewed at Reading the Past.
Before long, as readers know, war will be declared, the social order will crumble, and life at Stoneythorpe Hall will be forever changed.
So far, so familiar. The basic scenario has played out in numerous historical novels and at least one iconic TV show. However, this outline omits a few important facts that helps Kate Williams’ The Storms of War carve out an original niche in this well-worn turf. The de Witt family patriarch is a tradesman, and he was born in Germany. The middle-aged Sir Hugh, who takes snobbery to rude extremes, looks past his fiancée’s background because he needs her family’s money, which comes from canned meat production.
Furthermore, the de Witts had purchased Stoneythorpe from an elderly aristocratic lady five years earlier, and their new neighbors resent them. To be more specific, the townspeople hate them, a situation that becomes cruelly obvious after war breaks out and anything (and anyone) German is shunned. Despite their loyalty to England, their connections to Germany affects each of them in ways that are sometimes predictable, sometimes the opposite.
The Storms of War, first in a proposed trilogy about the de Witt family, spans the five years of WWI and narrows its focus to the viewpoints of Celia and Michael, mostly the former. We know from the prologue that Michael will find himself at the Somme, forced to lead his men “over the top” despite shell-shock and crippling anxiety. What he endures overseas is as harrowing as expected but isn't without elements of surprise.
Even more penetrating, though, are Celia’s experiences driving ambulances in France (and yes, she’s underage, so how she achieves this is a story in itself). Basing Celia’s wartime service on primary source accounts, Williams makes readers feel Celia's utter terror as she drives the unfamiliar vehicle in the pitch dark, exhausted, with wounded soldiers wailing at every bump in the road. How she accomplishes Celia’s transformation from naïve adolescent unable to conceive of a servant-free life to disillusioned, war-weary veteran over the course of 500 pages is masterful and convincing.
As several characters relate on occasion, the British royals are also of German origin, but comparisons to their country’s highest-ranking citizens don’t benefit the de Witts in the least. While these reminders provide additional context for the times the characters are living through, the royal genealogy gets a bit garbled (the Kaiser was Queen Victoria’s grandson, not her nephew). It also feels odd for the de Witt children to refer to their parents by their first names at times. Although their perspectives aren’t shown firsthand, the novel shows how Rudolf, Verena, and Emmeline are changed by the war as well.
This is a hefty, epic read, but the confident storytelling makes it easy to get carried into the de Witts’ world. For those who enjoy it and want more, the sequel, The Edge of the Fall, is already out.
First reviewed at Reading the Past.
August 22, 2014
Okay so I took some time before writing this review because it needed a lot of thought.
The book is about the de Witt family who are german in origin but live in England and how their lives change through the Great War.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoy historical fiction. I really like these sort of books and I especially enjoyed this one because it is all about family drama in WW1.
The de Witt family:
Rudolf - the father, german man but moved to England and married to an English woman.
Verena - the mother, She's sort of a stuck up which made me not like her, but when the war came and her life changed ( ) i felt a little bad for her.
Arthur - no comment
Emmeline - All she cared about is her wedding, so self-centered.
Michael - how brave he was to go sign up for the war. and the life at the trenches is so awful I can't believe how the soldiers used to fight like that. The part when he talked about the rats in the trenches
paraphrased in my own words: the rats in the trenches are as big as cats, but there's nothing do to about it. I actually came to like the little one that lives at the foot of my bed. WHAT ?! there nothing you can do about it ?! really ? here's a thought …. how about you shoot the thing ???
Celia - I understand that she is the youngest and all. but sometimes i think the number of times she cries in the story is a little ridiculous. I mean you are supposed to be the brave one of all your siblings, she wanted to travel and explore the world before all that war started. But no Celia is indecisive most of the time. But she is thoughtful which is nice , so i'll give her that.
The only thing that made me impatient was the fact that it took her too long to take action. again, indecisive as i said. But I almost got half way through the book and Celia is still at her home in the country side crying over her brother that went to fight. Then she goes and takes action and the events unfolds and so on..
I feel like i babbled a lot so I 'm gonna stop here. One last thing I want to add is that this is the kind of book that keep on replaying in my head for a long time.
The book is about the de Witt family who are german in origin but live in England and how their lives change through the Great War.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoy historical fiction. I really like these sort of books and I especially enjoyed this one because it is all about family drama in WW1.
The de Witt family:
Rudolf - the father, german man but moved to England and married to an English woman.
Verena - the mother, She's sort of a stuck up which made me not like her, but when the war came and her life changed ( ) i felt a little bad for her.
Arthur - no comment
Emmeline - All she cared about is her wedding, so self-centered.
Michael - how brave he was to go sign up for the war. and the life at the trenches is so awful I can't believe how the soldiers used to fight like that. The part when he talked about the rats in the trenches
paraphrased in my own words: the rats in the trenches are as big as cats, but there's nothing do to about it. I actually came to like the little one that lives at the foot of my bed. WHAT ?! there nothing you can do about it ?! really ? here's a thought …. how about you shoot the thing ???
Celia - I understand that she is the youngest and all. but sometimes i think the number of times she cries in the story is a little ridiculous. I mean you are supposed to be the brave one of all your siblings, she wanted to travel and explore the world before all that war started. But no Celia is indecisive most of the time. But she is thoughtful which is nice , so i'll give her that.
The only thing that made me impatient was the fact that it took her too long to take action. again, indecisive as i said. But I almost got half way through the book and Celia is still at her home in the country side crying over her brother that went to fight. Then she goes and takes action and the events unfolds and so on..
I feel like i babbled a lot so I 'm gonna stop here. One last thing I want to add is that this is the kind of book that keep on replaying in my head for a long time.
June 2, 2018
Closer to 3.5 but not close enough to rate it a 4. It has an interesting premise—the experiences of a German/English family during WWI. Two things kept me from loving it. Several of the main characters make very stupid decisions, and there is a streak of passivity running through two of them that gets very annoying. I get that stress makes people do foolish things or even paralyzes them, but I wanted more personal growth, particularly from Celia. Second, the author seemed to want to include a checklist of hot button issues to jazz up the novel. I won't list them because that would give away plot, but it began to seem like too much that one family would experience them all. As another reviewer pointed out, there are SO many books about WWI now that it's hard to make one stand out. This one didn't cut it for me. Your mileage may vary.
February 6, 2017
Actually the first thing that caught my eyes when I saw the novel in a bookstore was its cover and how simple and expressive it is. I really liked it so much. it is about a family saga which is told from the perspective of the youngest daughter of the family " Celia " through the First World War. Of course there are many scenes that really melt the heart but for me, the epilogue is the hardest; as it highlights the way Michael was killed and how Tom was suffering and it also revealed that he lied to Celia when he told her that he didn't kill her brother although he was forced to be involved. I think it's a very good choice for those who like history; specially fictional history.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2015
Well written, history appeared accurate, and handled the cliched storylines gracefully. A good addition to my Downton Abbey Recommended list.
Here is a link to my review:
http://perfectretort.blogspot.com/201...
Here is a link to my review:
http://perfectretort.blogspot.com/201...
Want to read
May 21, 2015Putting this on the back burner for now, not quite in the mood and it seems like it's going to be good so I'll read it when I know I'll enjoy it.
April 14, 2023
3,5
I didn't know you can hate so many characters in a book. Almost all of them. That's what made this book amazing. I always say: if a book changes something in you, it did its job.
However, it is a great book. Portraying the unfolding of WWI in such a beautiful manner, not talking about technical stuff, but referring to humans and their feelings towards it. Descriptions full of moments of introspection which make you think about yourself differently.
Also, talking about love. Which is a unique feeling that can so easily change you and influence your life. Don't let the deception of perfection fool you. Live your life for yourself, not for someone else.
What I didn't like is that I couldn't connect even with a character and some parts were bland and hurried. The MC is unbearable.
Still, I will continue this series, I am curious what will happen next.
I didn't know you can hate so many characters in a book. Almost all of them. That's what made this book amazing. I always say: if a book changes something in you, it did its job.
However, it is a great book. Portraying the unfolding of WWI in such a beautiful manner, not talking about technical stuff, but referring to humans and their feelings towards it. Descriptions full of moments of introspection which make you think about yourself differently.
Also, talking about love. Which is a unique feeling that can so easily change you and influence your life. Don't let the deception of perfection fool you. Live your life for yourself, not for someone else.
What I didn't like is that I couldn't connect even with a character and some parts were bland and hurried. The MC is unbearable.
Still, I will continue this series, I am curious what will happen next.
November 18, 2018
I love reading about this time period but this book was rather disappointing. It reminded me a little at one point of Somewhere in France (which i absolutely loved) so maybe thats when i started loosing interest and skimming because this book turned out nothing like that one. And it's harder to get into a book with characters I didn't really care about, they mostly annoyed me. In the end this book had a feel more like We That Are Left which I didn't really get into either.
August 30, 2015
I'm so glad I went out of my way to read this one (& by out of my way, I mean bought my copy on AmazonUK). I very much enjoyed the story of the de Witts and how they fared during WWI. Celia is the character followed most closely and as she is the youngest in the family, I had moments where watching the family from her perspective reminded me of Atonement (especially in her relationship with Emmeline).
I felt great sorrow and true frustration watching Rudolf and Verena as the reality of their situation kept issuing blows but they were still in denial. To be fair, there wasn't anything that they could have done to mitigate their circumstances and there are far worse things than relying on the world being a rational place & your beloved country treating you fairly as a citizen. These things sadly, have failed people, over & over throughout history. Still, it was painful to read. For Rudolf to find that his chosen country considered him a traitor & inter him for the duration must have been heartbreaking. For Verena to have had to register as an alien because of who she married & have what everyone said was sacrosanct, her birth & English lineage, discounted turns the whole sense & justice of the "system" on its head. I of course felt for Michael, Emmeline & Celia in finding out that they weren't English enough & that what mattered was their paternity which happened to be German. But through it all, I liked how each found ways to participate in making the world a better place. I found Emmeline's choices to be most interesting even though her way infuriated me at times. Michael's time in combat was bittersweet and ended on such a tragic note. Celia's various jobs during the war were interesting even if I didn't quite believe she'd have done all that & even had an offer to be a spy. She was consistently naive and no matter her language skills, that would surely not serve her well in an undercover situation. I don't know what to make of Arthur who was mentioned throughout & only showed up at the very end of everything, the war & the book. And then there's Tom. The servant, friend & possible very close relative to the De Witts in general & problematically to Celia in particular. I can only assume that the next book will delve & clear up that little mystery because Tom & Celia don't have the story right & Mrs. Cotton, for some reason hasn't told her son the truth (that I'm assuming was related in the story by Verena's memories). I also hope the next book explores the fate of Hilde & Johann. Having heard about them, I really want to know how they've fared through the war & what it will all mean now for them as they are in Germany.
I'm definitely going to read the second book in the series. Highly recommended for historical fiction fans & those interested in fiction of the time in particular.
I felt great sorrow and true frustration watching Rudolf and Verena as the reality of their situation kept issuing blows but they were still in denial. To be fair, there wasn't anything that they could have done to mitigate their circumstances and there are far worse things than relying on the world being a rational place & your beloved country treating you fairly as a citizen. These things sadly, have failed people, over & over throughout history. Still, it was painful to read. For Rudolf to find that his chosen country considered him a traitor & inter him for the duration must have been heartbreaking. For Verena to have had to register as an alien because of who she married & have what everyone said was sacrosanct, her birth & English lineage, discounted turns the whole sense & justice of the "system" on its head. I of course felt for Michael, Emmeline & Celia in finding out that they weren't English enough & that what mattered was their paternity which happened to be German. But through it all, I liked how each found ways to participate in making the world a better place. I found Emmeline's choices to be most interesting even though her way infuriated me at times. Michael's time in combat was bittersweet and ended on such a tragic note. Celia's various jobs during the war were interesting even if I didn't quite believe she'd have done all that & even had an offer to be a spy. She was consistently naive and no matter her language skills, that would surely not serve her well in an undercover situation. I don't know what to make of Arthur who was mentioned throughout & only showed up at the very end of everything, the war & the book. And then there's Tom. The servant, friend & possible very close relative to the De Witts in general & problematically to Celia in particular. I can only assume that the next book will delve & clear up that little mystery because Tom & Celia don't have the story right & Mrs. Cotton, for some reason hasn't told her son the truth (that I'm assuming was related in the story by Verena's memories). I also hope the next book explores the fate of Hilde & Johann. Having heard about them, I really want to know how they've fared through the war & what it will all mean now for them as they are in Germany.
I'm definitely going to read the second book in the series. Highly recommended for historical fiction fans & those interested in fiction of the time in particular.
April 13, 2021
I tried, I really did, but I just couldn’t like this book.
It’s lauded as a book that fans of Downton Abbey would like, and I can see that — but the difference is that episodes of the soap opera that Downton Abbey is (and I’m not dissing the show — I love it!) pass by very quickly while the drama and tension in this book are unrelenting. And since the book is 514 pages long, filled with fairly small & close type, that’s... a long time of unrelenting tension.
Tbh I was done when the horses were slaughtered COMPLETELY UNNECESSARILY.
No thanks. You don’t get to use the deaths of animals to tug on my heartstrings. (That goes for any book by any author though, in all honesty. I despise authors who write in the deaths of animals just to perpetuate drama. No thanks.) It would’ve been a little different if the horses died in some other part of the story but their deaths could’ve literally been removed from the book and the story arc would have lost NOTHING.
It’s lauded as a book that fans of Downton Abbey would like, and I can see that — but the difference is that episodes of the soap opera that Downton Abbey is (and I’m not dissing the show — I love it!) pass by very quickly while the drama and tension in this book are unrelenting. And since the book is 514 pages long, filled with fairly small & close type, that’s... a long time of unrelenting tension.
Tbh I was done when the horses were slaughtered COMPLETELY UNNECESSARILY.
No thanks. You don’t get to use the deaths of animals to tug on my heartstrings. (That goes for any book by any author though, in all honesty. I despise authors who write in the deaths of animals just to perpetuate drama. No thanks.) It would’ve been a little different if the horses died in some other part of the story but their deaths could’ve literally been removed from the book and the story arc would have lost NOTHING.
August 28, 2015
The Storms of War is the first in a planned trilogy by Kate Williams following the De Witt family during the period 1914-1918 as World War One alters their lives forever. This book has such a beautiful cover that captures the pre war era perfectly and sums up those carefree days before the outbreak of an event which once finally over after four hard years leaves the world a changed place for all who remain. For some reason I thought all three volumes in the trilogy would focus on WW1 and I did think what could the author possibly talk about over three books especially as this book was well over 500 pages? But the book concludes with the end of WW1 after what proved to be an excellent story. I will readily admit I came very very close to giving up on this book, normally I will always keep going with a book until the bitter end but here this was very very slow to get going. At almost 250 pages in still nothing had really happened and I began to think was this really for me? But once the outbreak of WW1 was announced this book took on a whole other level and I was rapidly tuning the pages to see how the De Witt family would weather everything that these catastrophic events would throw at them. I am so glad I persisted with this one as if I had not I would have missed out on a superb story extremely well written and researched which deserves to stand out amongst all the books written about WW1. This is a real family saga book which I love and fans of early books by Judith Lennox and Sarah Harrison will adore it.
Before the book begins there is a page with a list of characters and how they are connected to each other and how they feature in the story. This always makes me nervous because I feel why does an author need to do this? Is there so many characters in the story that the reader is in danger of losing track and becoming confused? I did find myself for the first few chapters referring back to this list until I became familiar with everybody so in the end it did prove useful. The prologue proved tension filled as it is 1916 and Michael De Wit is paralysed with fear in the trenches of France while his men wait for the order to move and attack. This set us up nicely for what was to come and the scenes written in France are some of the best and most powerful throughout the book. We then move back in time to pre war Engalnd and the early summer of 1914.Things are beginning to happen on the continent but for the residents of Callerton Manor the annual party for the village children is the most pressing thing on their minds. That and the imminent marriage of eldest daughter Emmeline to Lord Bradshaw.
What sets this family apart from any other I have read in a family saga is that the father Rudolf is German. His wife Verena was born in England and so to were his children Michael, Arthur, Emmeline and Celia. But still they are classed as German when war breaks out. It was refreshing to read something out of the ordinary as normally the family in these sort of books are rich and lord above most people. Here the De Witt fortune (if you could call it that) has been self made as Rudolf is an owner of factories which produce tinned meat. For once their money had not been inherited and their German connections make life very difficult for them once war breaks out. To make one of the principal characters German was brave considering what was to come with the war and I was very keen to see how the family would be treated during the preceding years. Prejudice and injustice were felt straight away when nobody shows up for the carefully planned party. This was the beginning of difficult and harroing times for the family.
There are too many characters to mention here but I will give a brief intro to just the main players. Rudolf as I have said is the head of the family who with his heritage only has horror in store for him. Verena his wife is vain and selfish and just totally falls apart when she feels all her family are abandoning her during the war years. She needed to step into Rudolf's place and show women are strong especially at this time women were also fighting for the right to vote. Arthur doesn't feature much at all in this book. He is away in Paris but I hope book two will focus more on him as there was obviously something he was hiding as life couldn't have been all fine and dandy in wartime Paris. Emmeline is beautiful and she knows it. She believes her life is all mapped out with this advantageous marriage but once again her heritage puts paid to that. Over the course of the book she goes through quite an awful lot of changes and was a far more likeable character in the end than the one we first encountered. Michael enlists for the army against his families wishes. He was a deep and complex character and you could sense there were many layers to him. His storyline was excellent and held so many twists and turns even right until that shocker of an epilogue. The main character we follow is Celia and to me this was really her story one where she comes of age against the backdrop of such a tumultuous time.
At the beginning of the war Celia is at that difficult stage not quite a woman still a teenager and wanting freedom freedom freedom. Her greatest fear is having to be presented at court and to find a man to marry. Her time spent in the garden away from everything going on is her sanctuary. But over the next four years she grows up and meets the big wide world head on. Slowly suffocating at home all alone with Verena. She leaves for London and soon lies about her age and enlists as an ambulance driver in France. She feels this has two advantages – she will be doing her bit for the war and hopefully she will be closer to Michael and former grooms man Tom. Once Celia joins the war this is where the book really took off and we flit back and forth between both Michael and Celia's experiences. Both so different but equally as devastating and I really couldn't put the book down. So much was packed into the last 250 pages that I wish the entire book had been like this instead of the languid pace I endured for the first half. Kate writes so vividly of the horrors experienced by Michael and Celia. For Michael the devastation of no mans land and the rat infested trenches. The loneliness, the death of so many men in the most unspeakable of ways and the sheer brutality that war brings. Michael had a very interesting storyline here and all I will say is fair play Kate Williams again a refreshing change to read of something not often mentioned. Also the detailed description of Celia's first experience driving an ambulance was fantastic. I felt I was with her sitting in the front seat as she did her best to navigate pot holed bomb strewn roads in the dark to bring injured men to the hospital. It showed such a stark contrast to the comfy, cushy lifestyles women had in England and by god were they brave to sacrifice their lives for the good of others.
There are so many story lines running concurrently alongside each other and the author does well to keep everything going. There were several shocks and surprises I didn't see coming and just when you think it is all resolved she leaves us hanging right at the very last page. Yes it does set us up nicely for what is to come but some readers may be annoyed at some unresolved issues. I have fallen in love with the De Witt family, each character so different and all with their own story and secrets to tell. Celia was a brilliant stand out character who goes for what she wants with love ultimately at her heart. I want to see her happy but will she achieve this in future books?
The Storms of War is a true saga where Kate Williams is at the top of her game. Get past the first half and you are in for one hell of a story with a family who will find a firm place in your heart. Book two The Edge of the Fall will take us to the roaring twenties and I can only imagine what trials and tribulations await the De Wit Family. Book one comes highly recommended now I'm eagerly awaiting book two.
Before the book begins there is a page with a list of characters and how they are connected to each other and how they feature in the story. This always makes me nervous because I feel why does an author need to do this? Is there so many characters in the story that the reader is in danger of losing track and becoming confused? I did find myself for the first few chapters referring back to this list until I became familiar with everybody so in the end it did prove useful. The prologue proved tension filled as it is 1916 and Michael De Wit is paralysed with fear in the trenches of France while his men wait for the order to move and attack. This set us up nicely for what was to come and the scenes written in France are some of the best and most powerful throughout the book. We then move back in time to pre war Engalnd and the early summer of 1914.Things are beginning to happen on the continent but for the residents of Callerton Manor the annual party for the village children is the most pressing thing on their minds. That and the imminent marriage of eldest daughter Emmeline to Lord Bradshaw.
What sets this family apart from any other I have read in a family saga is that the father Rudolf is German. His wife Verena was born in England and so to were his children Michael, Arthur, Emmeline and Celia. But still they are classed as German when war breaks out. It was refreshing to read something out of the ordinary as normally the family in these sort of books are rich and lord above most people. Here the De Witt fortune (if you could call it that) has been self made as Rudolf is an owner of factories which produce tinned meat. For once their money had not been inherited and their German connections make life very difficult for them once war breaks out. To make one of the principal characters German was brave considering what was to come with the war and I was very keen to see how the family would be treated during the preceding years. Prejudice and injustice were felt straight away when nobody shows up for the carefully planned party. This was the beginning of difficult and harroing times for the family.
There are too many characters to mention here but I will give a brief intro to just the main players. Rudolf as I have said is the head of the family who with his heritage only has horror in store for him. Verena his wife is vain and selfish and just totally falls apart when she feels all her family are abandoning her during the war years. She needed to step into Rudolf's place and show women are strong especially at this time women were also fighting for the right to vote. Arthur doesn't feature much at all in this book. He is away in Paris but I hope book two will focus more on him as there was obviously something he was hiding as life couldn't have been all fine and dandy in wartime Paris. Emmeline is beautiful and she knows it. She believes her life is all mapped out with this advantageous marriage but once again her heritage puts paid to that. Over the course of the book she goes through quite an awful lot of changes and was a far more likeable character in the end than the one we first encountered. Michael enlists for the army against his families wishes. He was a deep and complex character and you could sense there were many layers to him. His storyline was excellent and held so many twists and turns even right until that shocker of an epilogue. The main character we follow is Celia and to me this was really her story one where she comes of age against the backdrop of such a tumultuous time.
At the beginning of the war Celia is at that difficult stage not quite a woman still a teenager and wanting freedom freedom freedom. Her greatest fear is having to be presented at court and to find a man to marry. Her time spent in the garden away from everything going on is her sanctuary. But over the next four years she grows up and meets the big wide world head on. Slowly suffocating at home all alone with Verena. She leaves for London and soon lies about her age and enlists as an ambulance driver in France. She feels this has two advantages – she will be doing her bit for the war and hopefully she will be closer to Michael and former grooms man Tom. Once Celia joins the war this is where the book really took off and we flit back and forth between both Michael and Celia's experiences. Both so different but equally as devastating and I really couldn't put the book down. So much was packed into the last 250 pages that I wish the entire book had been like this instead of the languid pace I endured for the first half. Kate writes so vividly of the horrors experienced by Michael and Celia. For Michael the devastation of no mans land and the rat infested trenches. The loneliness, the death of so many men in the most unspeakable of ways and the sheer brutality that war brings. Michael had a very interesting storyline here and all I will say is fair play Kate Williams again a refreshing change to read of something not often mentioned. Also the detailed description of Celia's first experience driving an ambulance was fantastic. I felt I was with her sitting in the front seat as she did her best to navigate pot holed bomb strewn roads in the dark to bring injured men to the hospital. It showed such a stark contrast to the comfy, cushy lifestyles women had in England and by god were they brave to sacrifice their lives for the good of others.
There are so many story lines running concurrently alongside each other and the author does well to keep everything going. There were several shocks and surprises I didn't see coming and just when you think it is all resolved she leaves us hanging right at the very last page. Yes it does set us up nicely for what is to come but some readers may be annoyed at some unresolved issues. I have fallen in love with the De Witt family, each character so different and all with their own story and secrets to tell. Celia was a brilliant stand out character who goes for what she wants with love ultimately at her heart. I want to see her happy but will she achieve this in future books?
The Storms of War is a true saga where Kate Williams is at the top of her game. Get past the first half and you are in for one hell of a story with a family who will find a firm place in your heart. Book two The Edge of the Fall will take us to the roaring twenties and I can only imagine what trials and tribulations await the De Wit Family. Book one comes highly recommended now I'm eagerly awaiting book two.
April 7, 2025
I recently picked up "The Storms of War" at a local charity/thrift store. I hadn't read anything by Kate Williams before but family sagas set during WWI (or WWII or between the wars) is a favourite of mine so it came home with me...and I'm so glad it did! From the Prologue on, I was totally engaged and wanting to find out more about the soldier, Michael Witt (de Witt, as we would learn), struggling, terrified, in the trenches. Who is he? What is his background? Does he have a family? Who are they? Will he survive the horrors of WWI?
I enjoyed getting to know the de Witt family. Each member so different from the other, all with their own strengths and weaknesses...some more than others. I did struggle a little with the youngest child, Celia, as she seemed so much younger than her years. As she became a volunteer ambulance driver at the front, I had to remind myself more than once that, although she lied about her age to enlist, she was not a child. I warmed to her character closer to the end of the book.
Overall, I found it difficult to put "Storms of War" down. I will definitely pass it along to a friend. And I was delighted to discover, once I took the time to Google the author, that she is in fact historian Kate Williams, whose presentations on television I have enjoyed on a number of occasions.
"Storms of War" is the first in the de Witt family trilogy. By the oddest coincidence, I finished the book this morning, was at another charity shop this afternoon and, what did I spy but "The Edge of the Fall", the sequel and second novel in the trilogy. It was fate! I know what I'll be reading tonight!
I enjoyed getting to know the de Witt family. Each member so different from the other, all with their own strengths and weaknesses...some more than others. I did struggle a little with the youngest child, Celia, as she seemed so much younger than her years. As she became a volunteer ambulance driver at the front, I had to remind myself more than once that, although she lied about her age to enlist, she was not a child. I warmed to her character closer to the end of the book.
Overall, I found it difficult to put "Storms of War" down. I will definitely pass it along to a friend. And I was delighted to discover, once I took the time to Google the author, that she is in fact historian Kate Williams, whose presentations on television I have enjoyed on a number of occasions.
"Storms of War" is the first in the de Witt family trilogy. By the oddest coincidence, I finished the book this morning, was at another charity shop this afternoon and, what did I spy but "The Edge of the Fall", the sequel and second novel in the trilogy. It was fate! I know what I'll be reading tonight!
November 23, 2024
An excellent novel with a very informative Author’s note at the back.
A family saga of a German-English family of wealth just before, during and just after WWI.
This novel documented the treatment of Germans and their families during WWI. They had been in Britain for so long they looked at Britain as their home and yet they become the enemy overnight despite the fact that the royal family itself was half German; a German king on the throne fighting against the Kaiser, the nephew of Queen Victoria. A novel of how quickly an atmosphere of “us and them” develops even among friends, of the horrors of the battle conditions of WWI and of the tragic consequences of not being up to the fight both on and off the battlefield. There are so many novels based on WWII that it was interesting to read one based in WWI.
A family saga of a German-English family of wealth just before, during and just after WWI.
This novel documented the treatment of Germans and their families during WWI. They had been in Britain for so long they looked at Britain as their home and yet they become the enemy overnight despite the fact that the royal family itself was half German; a German king on the throne fighting against the Kaiser, the nephew of Queen Victoria. A novel of how quickly an atmosphere of “us and them” develops even among friends, of the horrors of the battle conditions of WWI and of the tragic consequences of not being up to the fight both on and off the battlefield. There are so many novels based on WWII that it was interesting to read one based in WWI.
June 16, 2018
took me a while to read this one. started off before the war and a family are planning a wedding for one of their daughters. they live in a large hall with staff. then the war begins and everything changes in their lives.
July 31, 2021
So so
July 23, 2014
First thing that caught my eye when I spotted this wonderful book was the cover.
Nothing symbolises the Edwardian Era like that scene.
A woman dressed in a lacey white dress sitting on a green lawn and a man dressed in expensive clothes lying next to her. In the background, a grand English house and a meticulously cut hedge.
The last era of elegance, the golden years, the glittering world of endless tea parties and summer afternoons that apt to linger.
A world on the brink of catastrophy.
Kate Williams, the author, centers her story around one family, whose relatively perfect life is cracking, and no one can stop it from happening.
It is a gripping story, a family saga, told mostly from the perspective of the youngest child of the family, Celia de Witt.
Williams cleverly puts twists and turns into the plot, the story takes place in different locations- Stoneythorpe Hall, the Western front, war London, field hospital...It was intriguing to see how war changed lives of ordinary people, especially Germans living in Britain were treated very badly.
Williams's book gives an insight into how life was on the home front while war was raging in Europe, something you don't get to learn in school.
Overall, the book was a pleasure to read. The story draws you in as you witness how the De Witts' previous life is turned into pieces.
I definitely recommend it to anyone interested in history. As a huge fan of Downton Abbey, I spotted some things in the book which were very much like in the popoular series. That kind of things can be contraproductive. A servant with a limp from the Boer War? Stoneythorpe Hall transformed into a quasi hospital? There probably were many country estates changed into hospitals, but still, I can't shake off the feeling that Williams was watching ITV while writing The Storms of War. That is probably the only negative thing I have to say.
Nothing symbolises the Edwardian Era like that scene.
A woman dressed in a lacey white dress sitting on a green lawn and a man dressed in expensive clothes lying next to her. In the background, a grand English house and a meticulously cut hedge.
The last era of elegance, the golden years, the glittering world of endless tea parties and summer afternoons that apt to linger.
A world on the brink of catastrophy.
Kate Williams, the author, centers her story around one family, whose relatively perfect life is cracking, and no one can stop it from happening.
It is a gripping story, a family saga, told mostly from the perspective of the youngest child of the family, Celia de Witt.
Williams cleverly puts twists and turns into the plot, the story takes place in different locations- Stoneythorpe Hall, the Western front, war London, field hospital...It was intriguing to see how war changed lives of ordinary people, especially Germans living in Britain were treated very badly.
Williams's book gives an insight into how life was on the home front while war was raging in Europe, something you don't get to learn in school.
Overall, the book was a pleasure to read. The story draws you in as you witness how the De Witts' previous life is turned into pieces.
I definitely recommend it to anyone interested in history. As a huge fan of Downton Abbey, I spotted some things in the book which were very much like in the popoular series. That kind of things can be contraproductive. A servant with a limp from the Boer War? Stoneythorpe Hall transformed into a quasi hospital? There probably were many country estates changed into hospitals, but still, I can't shake off the feeling that Williams was watching ITV while writing The Storms of War. That is probably the only negative thing I have to say.
August 14, 2016
At the beginning of the summer of 1914, the de Witt family are enjoying their pleasant, idyllic life at Stoneythorpe Hall. German-born Rudolf and his aristocratic wife Verena are preparing for their eldest daughter's wedding while their sons are studying in Paris and Cambridge and their younger daughter is on the brink of adulthood. The outbreak of the Great War changes everything. Shunned for their German origins, they see friends turn away, Rudolf's business struggle, and Emmeline's groom break off the wedding. Then come the internment camps for enemy aliens, the call for soldiers and women volunteers, and the family is torn apart, scattered among the horrors of war. How many of them will find their way back to Stoneythorpe Hall when the war finally ends?
So, yes, it's yet another of the myriad novels set around WWI that tries very hard to be Downton Abbey. The (admittedly extremely gorgeous) cover tells us as much at one glance. Like pretty much all of them, it's not. That aside, Kate Williams succeeds in painting a vivid picture of the era, both the country house grandeur and the brutal horror of the trenches. Of the characters, I found Michael a lot more interesting than silly, naive little Celia who despite all she experiences doesn't really seem to grow up much over the course of the story and Tom, the oh-so-surprising twist about whom was pretty much clear to me from the first time we met him. All in all, I enjoyed this despite finding the main character rather annoying. Now please, can the stupid girl grow up a little in the next book?
So, yes, it's yet another of the myriad novels set around WWI that tries very hard to be Downton Abbey. The (admittedly extremely gorgeous) cover tells us as much at one glance. Like pretty much all of them, it's not. That aside, Kate Williams succeeds in painting a vivid picture of the era, both the country house grandeur and the brutal horror of the trenches. Of the characters, I found Michael a lot more interesting than silly, naive little Celia who despite all she experiences doesn't really seem to grow up much over the course of the story and Tom, the oh-so-surprising twist about whom was pretty much clear to me from the first time we met him. All in all, I enjoyed this despite finding the main character rather annoying. Now please, can the stupid girl grow up a little in the next book?
July 23, 2014
Kate Williams’ The Storms of War is set during the Great War in England and France and the detailed descriptions of the various settings help you to envision what the war must have been like. While Williams paints a clear picture of the gruesome wartime at the Western Front in France, she doesn’t forget to also write about the state of her settings before and after the war. One of these places is Stoneythorpe Hall, the home of the de Witt family, and I really enjoyed reading about how it changed during the war.
In my opinion, this novel is the coming-of-age story of Celia de Witt, our main character. She is the youngest of the de Witt children and after the war breaks out she has to grow up very fast. Child-like, dreamy and naive Celia soon adapts to the harsh reality of the wartime and turns into a practical young woman. Only later in the book, she somehow seems to be out of character for a short while. I could write a lot about the other characters. They all seem to have their own story to tell which isn’t surprising, as this is the first book in a trilogy.
When I saw the cover of The Storms of War, I expected light historical/romantic fiction. What I didn’t expect is a novel that is filled with blood and causes so much pain. I was glad it turned out that way. The Storms of War is a well-researched book that I’d recommend to everyone who can stomach a hefty dose of war and its consequences on people’s lives.
In my opinion, this novel is the coming-of-age story of Celia de Witt, our main character. She is the youngest of the de Witt children and after the war breaks out she has to grow up very fast. Child-like, dreamy and naive Celia soon adapts to the harsh reality of the wartime and turns into a practical young woman. Only later in the book, she somehow seems to be out of character for a short while. I could write a lot about the other characters. They all seem to have their own story to tell which isn’t surprising, as this is the first book in a trilogy.
When I saw the cover of The Storms of War, I expected light historical/romantic fiction. What I didn’t expect is a novel that is filled with blood and causes so much pain. I was glad it turned out that way. The Storms of War is a well-researched book that I’d recommend to everyone who can stomach a hefty dose of war and its consequences on people’s lives.
Read
June 2, 2016As this it is one hundred years since the first world war there are many books on the shelves covering this terrible time in our history.
This book is the story of one family., the de Witts who have the complication of the father being German at a time when Germany is the enemy.
Told mainly through the eyes of the youngest child Celia we go from a peaceful country estate to the horrors of war. The oldest daughter is excited about her forthcoming marriage and one brother is in Paris with the other at university but through the book we learn of them all as well as the fate of their German father.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book which doesn't try to sanitize war and shows how men were affected but also the women who served and home and abroad.
I did feel that the character of Celia seems rather younger at the start of the book than she is but war soon makes her grow up like the young people around her.
The scenes in the trenches were harrowing to read but essential to the story.
I look forward to reading what happens next to the family
I received this book from Goodreads for free in exchange for an honest review.
This book is the story of one family., the de Witts who have the complication of the father being German at a time when Germany is the enemy.
Told mainly through the eyes of the youngest child Celia we go from a peaceful country estate to the horrors of war. The oldest daughter is excited about her forthcoming marriage and one brother is in Paris with the other at university but through the book we learn of them all as well as the fate of their German father.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book which doesn't try to sanitize war and shows how men were affected but also the women who served and home and abroad.
I did feel that the character of Celia seems rather younger at the start of the book than she is but war soon makes her grow up like the young people around her.
The scenes in the trenches were harrowing to read but essential to the story.
I look forward to reading what happens next to the family
I received this book from Goodreads for free in exchange for an honest review.
January 23, 2017
"The Storm of Wars" tells the story of the "de Witt" family, who are from German origins but are mostly born and living in England during the First World War, and have to find their place in society, when everyone else sees them as the enemy. The first half of the book is very slow paced (I even considered giving up) but the characters were so interesting that I kept reading until the end, and I'm very glad that I did! First of all, I liked that the author wrote the book set during WWI. I don't know why but I have the feeling that most authors prefer to write about WWII than WWI, maybe because WWI is a little bit more challenging to understand (but I find it far more interesting than WWII) but I liked that Williams accepted the challenge and did a wonderful job. The writing had nothing special about it, but did not harm the story in any way. I also really liked the characters (especially Celia) and I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the sequel to see what happens next!
December 16, 2016
4.5 after chapter 15. The book is about a wealthy aristocratic family thrown into the realities of WWI. It was difficult to read with all the societal etiquette and snobbery in the first 14 chapters. I almost didn't continue reading it, but I read another review that said don't give up on this book. So I went back and am glad I did. Celia is the youngest daughter of her parents, one parent is German and is imprisoned by the English. Her Mother is more worried about herself than anyone. Celia changes her name leaves to help in the war effort. She becomes an ambulance driver in France and experiences life in ways she did not expect. It's a good read. Not a heavy historical read...but certainly the author does a fine job of describing the lack of "logic" of wartime.
August 9, 2018
Thanks to the publisher for an advance reader's copy.
I'm trying to be better about putting aside books that I don't love reading, so this had to get the ax. I normally love British historical fiction, but I felt like I slogged through the first 65 pages without much reward. The writing was often muddled and didn't have any spark. Or maybe I just have Downton Abbey burnout. I did really like that the book focused on the effects of World War I for a British family of German heritage - this was an interesting twist to the well-worn "wartime family saga" motif. It has a lot of great reviews, so maybe I'll come back to it at some point.
I'm trying to be better about putting aside books that I don't love reading, so this had to get the ax. I normally love British historical fiction, but I felt like I slogged through the first 65 pages without much reward. The writing was often muddled and didn't have any spark. Or maybe I just have Downton Abbey burnout. I did really like that the book focused on the effects of World War I for a British family of German heritage - this was an interesting twist to the well-worn "wartime family saga" motif. It has a lot of great reviews, so maybe I'll come back to it at some point.
July 22, 2014
I received this book as part of Good Reads First Reads
I am usually the first one to put my hand up to a book linked into history and as the D Day celebrations have been bringing the 2nd World War to the forefront and as it's only a few weeks until the centenary of the start of WWI then I thought this would be another book I would like
Whilst it tells the story of family member during the 1914-1918 war and the impact it has on a girl called Celia who enrolls herself in the war and gets involved in a dangerous plot - it's nothing new to other books that are already on the shelves
I am usually the first one to put my hand up to a book linked into history and as the D Day celebrations have been bringing the 2nd World War to the forefront and as it's only a few weeks until the centenary of the start of WWI then I thought this would be another book I would like
Whilst it tells the story of family member during the 1914-1918 war and the impact it has on a girl called Celia who enrolls herself in the war and gets involved in a dangerous plot - it's nothing new to other books that are already on the shelves
July 28, 2018
This book was ok. I enjoyed reading about the work that was done by the British people during WWI. Aristocratic families would convert their homes into hospitals or convalescent homes for healing soldiers. I felt the homosexual relationship between two of the soldiers was inappropriate. The deWitt family was ostracized because of their German roots and their father was arrested and held in prison during the war (similar to the Japanese Canadians who were interned during WWII).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2018
The saga of the De Witt family begins with this thoroughly enjoyable novel which traces the individual stories of the family through the dark years of 1914-1918, focusing on the youngest daughter Celia. Kate Williams is a fine storyteller and historian and so my expectations were high - The Storms of War met every one of them.
March 24, 2016
I received this book through the Goodreads giveaway program. I wanted to like this book, but all it left me with was a feeling of indifference. For me, the characters left no impression and neither did the story. I felt this story could have been so much more, but I didn't feel the writer's passion.
September 29, 2015
Excellent!!
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