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None Stood Taller - The Complete Box Set: One of greatest love stories of World War Two
Short listed for the "Selfies" self published book of the year award 2022Finalist in the Independent Author Network book of the year award 2022
Two people united by the war but separated by the social divide that stands between them.
Lily is from the East End of London, Edward is the Earl of Middlebourne.They work together within SOE where their contribution towards the D-Day landings is enormous. However great their achievement, the chasm between them remains. Can Edward take that giant stride, will Lily declare her love? All the while the war dictates their future.
Her journey begins beneath the rubble of the Blitz. Reduced to the ragged clothes she stands in, her unbreakable spirit propels her on a journey. That journey leads to the very top of the British war time establishment, and to Edward.
Lily’s story is inspired by real characters and events. In particular a group of women who contributed so much towards Britain's wartime intelligence and SOE. Viewed through Lily’s eyes, the historic details of World War Two come to life in a way you haven't experienced before.
Two people united by the war but separated by the social divide that stands between them.
Lily is from the East End of London, Edward is the Earl of Middlebourne.They work together within SOE where their contribution towards the D-Day landings is enormous. However great their achievement, the chasm between them remains. Can Edward take that giant stride, will Lily declare her love? All the while the war dictates their future.
Her journey begins beneath the rubble of the Blitz. Reduced to the ragged clothes she stands in, her unbreakable spirit propels her on a journey. That journey leads to the very top of the British war time establishment, and to Edward.
Lily’s story is inspired by real characters and events. In particular a group of women who contributed so much towards Britain's wartime intelligence and SOE. Viewed through Lily’s eyes, the historic details of World War Two come to life in a way you haven't experienced before.
1511 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 26, 2023
250 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Peter Turnham
10 books50 followersI took the rash decision to retire from my business at the age of 46 to self-build my own house on the top of the Cotswold Hills and to breed a few trout for our lakes. We've now lived in the house for well over 20 years and are still here! We're not really self-sufficient but my wife and I manage and maintain everything ourselves. I just wish I'd discovered the joy of writing sooner - it has become one of my greatest pleasures in life. After a ruptured Achilles tendon trapped me in a chair for some months, to keep my mind occupied I wrote my "Autumn Daffodils" series which is essentially a story in two halves. "Charlie's Story" ends dramatically, and "Joanna's Story" continues the roller-coaster ride to even greater heights.
Since then, I have published the "None Stood Taller" trilogy including "None Stood Taller The Final Year" and "None Stood Taller The Price of Freedom". "Freedom" can be read as the conclusion of the story or can introduce the series to new readers.
"Parallel Lives - a Story of the Greatest Generation" published late August 2024 has taken me two years to write. At 550 pages it seems long, but it is actually two books in one; I could find no sensible place to divide it into two separate books, as it depicts the lives of both Emma and Roger throughout WW2 from 1939 through to 1945.
My six books are all published on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle, with hardbacks of the None Stood Taller series and of Parallel Lives. Paperbacks are also available to order from High Street bookstores.
These days we let out one of our farm buildings as a holiday cottage, and we meet many interesting people from the UK and abroad.
In March 2022, I was shortlisted with "None Stood Taller" for the UK Selfies Award, a competition for self-published authors, with the winner being announced at the annual London Book Fair. Very exciting for a relatively new author at the time!
Since then, I have published the "None Stood Taller" trilogy including "None Stood Taller The Final Year" and "None Stood Taller The Price of Freedom". "Freedom" can be read as the conclusion of the story or can introduce the series to new readers.
"Parallel Lives - a Story of the Greatest Generation" published late August 2024 has taken me two years to write. At 550 pages it seems long, but it is actually two books in one; I could find no sensible place to divide it into two separate books, as it depicts the lives of both Emma and Roger throughout WW2 from 1939 through to 1945.
My six books are all published on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle, with hardbacks of the None Stood Taller series and of Parallel Lives. Paperbacks are also available to order from High Street bookstores.
These days we let out one of our farm buildings as a holiday cottage, and we meet many interesting people from the UK and abroad.
In March 2022, I was shortlisted with "None Stood Taller" for the UK Selfies Award, a competition for self-published authors, with the winner being announced at the annual London Book Fair. Very exciting for a relatively new author at the time!
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 8, 2025
Our Greatest generation is almost gone, their patriotic stand for freedom is not gone but is fragile
None Stood Taller has details that blend fiction with facts, informing another generation about the cost of freedom and the preciousness of it. Although the stories are about British people, our own American ancestors were also hero’s and saved the world from evil. It is a love story, a family drama, a youthful spirit of courage and bravery, and a decidedly poignant story of death and destruction of innocents. People who had not antagonized or threatened other races or cultures or nations were systematically murdered by evil yet charismatic leaders whose ambition was to have power over what they considered to be inferior humans. It’s hard to accept that so many fell into that corrupt thinking in Germany and that that corruption was contagious and leaders in Italy and France fell into that corrupt with that ideology. It can happen quickly to the next generation. My parents lived during these wars and hardships. They taught my generation about the evil, the inhumanity that existed, the bravery that it took to fight it, the sacrifices at home for the war effort, and they honored the lost soldiers and sailors and airmen who gave their lives for our freedom. This author puts those same lessons in stories that I hope the next generation will read and understand.
None Stood Taller has details that blend fiction with facts, informing another generation about the cost of freedom and the preciousness of it. Although the stories are about British people, our own American ancestors were also hero’s and saved the world from evil. It is a love story, a family drama, a youthful spirit of courage and bravery, and a decidedly poignant story of death and destruction of innocents. People who had not antagonized or threatened other races or cultures or nations were systematically murdered by evil yet charismatic leaders whose ambition was to have power over what they considered to be inferior humans. It’s hard to accept that so many fell into that corrupt thinking in Germany and that that corruption was contagious and leaders in Italy and France fell into that corrupt with that ideology. It can happen quickly to the next generation. My parents lived during these wars and hardships. They taught my generation about the evil, the inhumanity that existed, the bravery that it took to fight it, the sacrifices at home for the war effort, and they honored the lost soldiers and sailors and airmen who gave their lives for our freedom. This author puts those same lessons in stories that I hope the next generation will read and understand.
August 25, 2024
World War II Comes to Life Like Never Before…
Once I started reading the first of Peter Turnham’s Never Stood Taller series I literally couldn’t stop unless I read the last word. Recently I’ve been completely entrenched in reading WWII historical fiction novels as well as biographies and autobiographies… this series is the first I’ve read that gave such an authentic sense of the scope of planning, research, bravery and commitment required by so many before, during and after the war. Mixed in with the well-developed characters introduced throughout the books, I’ve never appreciated the expertise as well as the humanity demonstrated by so many on a global level. Whether you’re remotely interested in history or not, I encourage you to read all three of these books. The only problem is that you will get little sleep once you read page one because they’re impossible to put down. Hope you enjoy your journey… I most definitely did. Thank you Mr. Turnham, for your dedication to both history and storytelling.
Once I started reading the first of Peter Turnham’s Never Stood Taller series I literally couldn’t stop unless I read the last word. Recently I’ve been completely entrenched in reading WWII historical fiction novels as well as biographies and autobiographies… this series is the first I’ve read that gave such an authentic sense of the scope of planning, research, bravery and commitment required by so many before, during and after the war. Mixed in with the well-developed characters introduced throughout the books, I’ve never appreciated the expertise as well as the humanity demonstrated by so many on a global level. Whether you’re remotely interested in history or not, I encourage you to read all three of these books. The only problem is that you will get little sleep once you read page one because they’re impossible to put down. Hope you enjoy your journey… I most definitely did. Thank you Mr. Turnham, for your dedication to both history and storytelling.
November 4, 2024
Could not put the Kindle down What fantastic and real characters I really enjoy WW11history and this kept me up reading
The characters were do real and so likeable and the emotions and elation that the encountered was so real
I thoroughly enjoyed the entire series Thankyou for writing this novel pf “the greatest generation “ and the people who answered the call
The characters were do real and so likeable and the emotions and elation that the encountered was so real
I thoroughly enjoyed the entire series Thankyou for writing this novel pf “the greatest generation “ and the people who answered the call
January 19, 2024
Hypnotic
Could not stop reading these books. Great characterization. Gave a great history lesson for all of us to learn. And good insight into people who lived through this terrible war.
Could not stop reading these books. Great characterization. Gave a great history lesson for all of us to learn. And good insight into people who lived through this terrible war.
July 30, 2024
great
I love al 3 books could stop reading them kept you on your toes never sure what was around the next corner
I love al 3 books could stop reading them kept you on your toes never sure what was around the next corner
May 27, 2025
Great Story
I read all 3 books and was so excited to see what happened next. Great story, great storytelling!! Must read no matter what type of reading you do.
I read all 3 books and was so excited to see what happened next. Great story, great storytelling!! Must read no matter what type of reading you do.
July 14, 2025
Bravo!!!
This is the best book I have read in a long time. It grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go until the end.
This is the best book I have read in a long time. It grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go until the end.
November 14, 2025
Well written books - I laughed, cried & couldn’t put it down. Now feeling sad I’ve finished the set.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews