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Alvesdon
Wiltshire, 1939In the small village of Alvesdon, the Castell family and their farm have been staples in the community for decades. As the threat of war edges closer to their sanctuary each day, each member of the Castell family finds themselves pushed in ways they could have never imagined. With relationships tested and torn apart, facing both personal tragedy and physical conflict, Alvesdon explores the fortunes of three generations of the Castell family from the onset of the Second World War up until the Battle of Britain in 1940.
448 pages, Paperback
First published June 13, 2024
108 people are currently reading
443 people want to read
About the author
James Holland
67 books1,029 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
James Holland was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, and studied history at Durham University. He has worked for several London publishing houses and has also written for a number of national newspapers and magazines. Married with a son, he lives near Salisbury.
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
James Holland was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, and studied history at Durham University. He has worked for several London publishing houses and has also written for a number of national newspapers and magazines. Married with a son, he lives near Salisbury.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
July 12, 2024
Alvesdon takes the reader on a compelling and emotional journey through the early years of the Second World War showing us the impact of wider events on one extended family and the community in which they live.
The village of Alvesdon lies in farming country and the Castell family and their neighbours have farmed there for years. What I particularly liked about the book is the focus on how pivotal farming was to the war effort. But it involved change, some of which was unwelcome, with cattle farming having to give way to arable in order to produce wheat and barley to feed the nation. It’s just one of the changes that causes friction between Walter, known to everyone as ‘Stork’, and his father Alwyn.
Through the different characters we witness all aspects of the war effort: Stork’s eldest son, Edward, is serving in the Yeomanry; Stork’s youngest son, Wilf, is a pilot in RAF Fighter Command; Stork’s daughter, Tess, is working as secretary to General Ismay in the War Office; and Ollie, son of the Castell’s neghbours, the Varneys, is serving on a Royal Navy destroyer. Involvement in the war doesn’t end there but extends to villagers and estate workers such as gamekeeper, Tom Timbrell. And war brings new roles – ARP warden, billeting officer – and new organisations like the Home Guard.
The experiences of these characters give us an insider view of key events such as the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk. And we see aspects of wartime Britain often overlooked, such as the categorisation and internment of German nationals living in the country, often for many years.
The story leaves us in no doubt that war is a brutal and bloody business that can devastate a family, destroy hopes for the future and leave individuals scarred for life – both physically and mentally. For those that lived through the First World War, there’s a profound sense of disillusionment, despair even, that the country must go through it all again. For some the war is a frustrating pause in their lives or a period of desperate uncertainty waiting for news that never comes or that, when it does, is life-changing. For others, the war creates a sense that there’s no time to lose; why wait when you have no idea what tomorrow will bring? Paradoxically, for others the war opens up new possibilities or brings about an epiphany. And what about the burden of knowing things you are unable to tell others, even if it might affect them?
The author is a renowned historian and this definitely shows in some of the vivid and detailed depictions of events. For example, this description of the experience of taking off in a Spitfire: ‘Wilf hauled himself up, stepped into the cockpit, and dropped down, half-door up, clacking shit. The familiar smell: high octane fuel, oil, rubber, metal. Chocks pulled clear […] open throttle, release the brakes and off, trundling over the grass to line up. Look each side. Clear. Open throttles wide, and off, speeding across the grass, forty, fifty, sixty miles per hour on the clock, ease back on the stick…’ A real feeling of authenticity pervades the book and you get the sense you’re in the hands of an author who really knows his stuff.
At the end of the book we know there are more years of turmoil to come, but the characters don’t. ‘Everything has been thrown up in the air and is coming down again but not landing exactly as it was before.’ Thanks to the skill of the author, by the time I reached the final chapter I had become totally invested in the lives of the characters and was left wondering what would happen to them next. This is a book just crying out for a sequel.
Alvesdon is a brilliant combination of emotional family saga and fascinating wartime story.
The village of Alvesdon lies in farming country and the Castell family and their neighbours have farmed there for years. What I particularly liked about the book is the focus on how pivotal farming was to the war effort. But it involved change, some of which was unwelcome, with cattle farming having to give way to arable in order to produce wheat and barley to feed the nation. It’s just one of the changes that causes friction between Walter, known to everyone as ‘Stork’, and his father Alwyn.
Through the different characters we witness all aspects of the war effort: Stork’s eldest son, Edward, is serving in the Yeomanry; Stork’s youngest son, Wilf, is a pilot in RAF Fighter Command; Stork’s daughter, Tess, is working as secretary to General Ismay in the War Office; and Ollie, son of the Castell’s neghbours, the Varneys, is serving on a Royal Navy destroyer. Involvement in the war doesn’t end there but extends to villagers and estate workers such as gamekeeper, Tom Timbrell. And war brings new roles – ARP warden, billeting officer – and new organisations like the Home Guard.
The experiences of these characters give us an insider view of key events such as the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk. And we see aspects of wartime Britain often overlooked, such as the categorisation and internment of German nationals living in the country, often for many years.
The story leaves us in no doubt that war is a brutal and bloody business that can devastate a family, destroy hopes for the future and leave individuals scarred for life – both physically and mentally. For those that lived through the First World War, there’s a profound sense of disillusionment, despair even, that the country must go through it all again. For some the war is a frustrating pause in their lives or a period of desperate uncertainty waiting for news that never comes or that, when it does, is life-changing. For others, the war creates a sense that there’s no time to lose; why wait when you have no idea what tomorrow will bring? Paradoxically, for others the war opens up new possibilities or brings about an epiphany. And what about the burden of knowing things you are unable to tell others, even if it might affect them?
The author is a renowned historian and this definitely shows in some of the vivid and detailed depictions of events. For example, this description of the experience of taking off in a Spitfire: ‘Wilf hauled himself up, stepped into the cockpit, and dropped down, half-door up, clacking shit. The familiar smell: high octane fuel, oil, rubber, metal. Chocks pulled clear […] open throttle, release the brakes and off, trundling over the grass to line up. Look each side. Clear. Open throttles wide, and off, speeding across the grass, forty, fifty, sixty miles per hour on the clock, ease back on the stick…’ A real feeling of authenticity pervades the book and you get the sense you’re in the hands of an author who really knows his stuff.
At the end of the book we know there are more years of turmoil to come, but the characters don’t. ‘Everything has been thrown up in the air and is coming down again but not landing exactly as it was before.’ Thanks to the skill of the author, by the time I reached the final chapter I had become totally invested in the lives of the characters and was left wondering what would happen to them next. This is a book just crying out for a sequel.
Alvesdon is a brilliant combination of emotional family saga and fascinating wartime story.
March 17, 2024
This is a really nice novel. I found it very interesting as through each member of the family, I got an informative idea about life at the beginning of WWII: whether one is called up, or decided to enlist; whether one is a German woman married to an English man and having lived in Alveado for over twenty years, or the mother of a woman working in the War Office. The reader also experiences the state of various countries through the men of the family who have been sent to: Palestine (artillery), Norway (Naval army), France, or over the Channel (RAF). I really enjoyed each of the characters with their own stories, and also a bit of romance. A novel for the heart which focuses on the values of the family and its duties to their country. The end is satisfying but I do hope there is a sequel. A very pleasant read!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.
January 11, 2025
I really enjoy his military history books but struggled a bit with this, it picked up about two thirds in but I found it stilted & a bit wooden early on.
April 11, 2025
Summer 1939, in the Wiltshire village of Alvesdon life continues much as it has for years. But war is looming and everything is about to change.
This is basically a family saga with a war in it – or perhaps a war saga with a family in it – charting a year in the lives of the Castell family and surrounding farming community. There are a lot of characters which means it can be hard to keep track of who’s who. Conveniently there are characters in all three of the armed forces and the War Office so you get the broader picture as it moves from the outbreak of war through Dunkirk and on to the Battle of Britain.
It’s a bit of a slow burner at the start with the pace picking up as the fighting gets underway. There are a handful of typos and a couple of silly factual errors. Overall it just felt a bit too long with a slightly contrived plot and shallow characters. James Holland is a brilliant non-fiction writer but seems a bit out of his depth here.
This is basically a family saga with a war in it – or perhaps a war saga with a family in it – charting a year in the lives of the Castell family and surrounding farming community. There are a lot of characters which means it can be hard to keep track of who’s who. Conveniently there are characters in all three of the armed forces and the War Office so you get the broader picture as it moves from the outbreak of war through Dunkirk and on to the Battle of Britain.
It’s a bit of a slow burner at the start with the pace picking up as the fighting gets underway. There are a handful of typos and a couple of silly factual errors. Overall it just felt a bit too long with a slightly contrived plot and shallow characters. James Holland is a brilliant non-fiction writer but seems a bit out of his depth here.
September 17, 2024
The lives of ordinary folk in rural England in the worst of times are brought to life by James in a novel that reminds me of happier days of my childhood during visits to Gloucestershire in the 1950s. James encyclopaedic knowledge of WWII provides sometimes disturbingly accurate accounts of the grit and hardships of battle, and the impact on these ordinary folks doing extraordinary things. Sequels are a begging…
April 23, 2025
It takes time to get used to this book, because there are a lot of characters, most from a small village, all connected to a large farm each with a different story. Slowly the stories grow together and form a gripping tale of rural Brittain getting to grips with the start of the 2nd world war. It was a pageturner leaving an emptyness at the end.
June 5, 2025
This is a beautifully written, evocative family drama set against the backdrop of the first year of the Second World War. James Holland's expertise as a war historian provides a plausible framework to hang his fictional story on, without ever being intrusive or lapsing into passages of non-fictional exposition. All the main events of that first year enter into the story to some extent: evacuation, Norway, internment, the deployment of the BEF, the evacuation from Dunkirk, and the Battle of Britain.
Throughout the story, the reader becomes quite attached to the Castell family and the other inhabitants of Alvesdon, and they act as a helpful fictional complement to James's non-fiction writing. C.S. Lewis once said that he didn't write his Narnia stories as an allegory of Christianity but to make the reader feel the Christian story, and I think Alvesdon fulfils a similar purpose for the Second World War. Ultimately, all history is a story of people: how they think, what they do, and why. In Alvesdon, we have an effective reminder of that fact, as amidst the drama of 1939 and 1940, it is easy to fail to consider how ordinary people must have felt and reacted as their world changed beyond all imagining.
The dislocation to family and relationships is one aspect that James brings out particularly effectively, and movingly, in this novel. Another is how far some of the huge historical events are from a rural Wiltshire farming community, but also how quickly that can change - Wilf shooting down a German aircraft over Alvesdon is a particularly dramatic example.
James Holland's ability as a writer is indisputable, and this novel shows him at the top of his game. I read it while on holiday, in the sun, in Western France, which was a perfect setting in which to imagine the abrupt slide from idyllic peace into total war. Alvesdon is a delight to read, a memorable and entertaining novel, and I highly recommend it.
Throughout the story, the reader becomes quite attached to the Castell family and the other inhabitants of Alvesdon, and they act as a helpful fictional complement to James's non-fiction writing. C.S. Lewis once said that he didn't write his Narnia stories as an allegory of Christianity but to make the reader feel the Christian story, and I think Alvesdon fulfils a similar purpose for the Second World War. Ultimately, all history is a story of people: how they think, what they do, and why. In Alvesdon, we have an effective reminder of that fact, as amidst the drama of 1939 and 1940, it is easy to fail to consider how ordinary people must have felt and reacted as their world changed beyond all imagining.
The dislocation to family and relationships is one aspect that James brings out particularly effectively, and movingly, in this novel. Another is how far some of the huge historical events are from a rural Wiltshire farming community, but also how quickly that can change - Wilf shooting down a German aircraft over Alvesdon is a particularly dramatic example.
James Holland's ability as a writer is indisputable, and this novel shows him at the top of his game. I read it while on holiday, in the sun, in Western France, which was a perfect setting in which to imagine the abrupt slide from idyllic peace into total war. Alvesdon is a delight to read, a memorable and entertaining novel, and I highly recommend it.
February 12, 2025
A confident and sweeping wartime family saga that envelopes you and makes you care for its well-rounded characters and hope for the best for all of them as the clouds of war gather over them. I was fearing the worst for some of the characters as village life is disrupted by the demands of the outbreak of the Second World War then saw that’s it the first novel in a planned trilogy. I will definitely be back for more. It is very well researched but very accessible and well written with a flow that makes it difficult to put down.
February 17, 2025
Rather pedestrian to begin with - almost Enid Blyton in the way the characters are introduced but turns into a splendid read. James Holland knows each theatre of war so well, his descriptions are first rate. The large 'cast' become great companions in this lengthy page-turner. I trust there will be a sequel 😊
March 14, 2025
It is August 1939 and in the village of Alvesdon in Wiltshire the Castell family gather, the village has been their home for generations. But the peace and tranquility will soon be shattered and their lives will be transformed forever. Holland’s novel covers just over a year and follows the fortunes of not just the Castell family but also the local farmers and workers, the land girls and evacuees at the outbreak of World War II. It also touches on the effect events have on German nationals who lived in Britain. Events in Europe and Palestine are also explored through the lives of the young men from Alvesdon who enlist in the armed forces. We even get a glimpse into the war room in Westminster.
The emphasis on how the war impacts a rural community and their fears and uncertainties is well portrayed and for the most part engaging. It is well described and has a feeling of authenticity. There is a large cast of characters that at first is quite daunting however there is help in the form of a “Dramatis Personae”. The book initially is slow to get going, this is partly due to the introduction of all those characters and their relationships and partly due to the fact there is little action as the Castell’s and local residents navigate the ”phoney war” of late 1939 and early 1940. As the book progresses though the action and tension builds up and there are some quite gripping scenarios. The evacuation of Dunkirk is particularly well done as are some of the air battles, although I thought the Battle of Britain would have featured more. And I felt the start of the Blitz was dealt with in a rather flippant way as some people found it hugely entertaining watching it unfold from rooftops as if they were observing a huge firework display. And then wandering through the devastated East End observing the apparently unperturbed stoic locals as their homes were destroyed. The book ends rather abruptly and the tying up of some of the storylines were a little forced. I also got the feeling that there will be more books from Holland featuring the inhabitants of Alvesdon.
I loved Holland’s Jack Tanner series and aspects of the second half of “Alvesdon” reminded me of those books. The first half of the book as I have said was well done and authentic but I did I find it less engaging. Overall it is a little lightweight but it's still worth a read and is entertaining enough.
The emphasis on how the war impacts a rural community and their fears and uncertainties is well portrayed and for the most part engaging. It is well described and has a feeling of authenticity. There is a large cast of characters that at first is quite daunting however there is help in the form of a “Dramatis Personae”. The book initially is slow to get going, this is partly due to the introduction of all those characters and their relationships and partly due to the fact there is little action as the Castell’s and local residents navigate the ”phoney war” of late 1939 and early 1940. As the book progresses though the action and tension builds up and there are some quite gripping scenarios. The evacuation of Dunkirk is particularly well done as are some of the air battles, although I thought the Battle of Britain would have featured more. And I felt the start of the Blitz was dealt with in a rather flippant way as some people found it hugely entertaining watching it unfold from rooftops as if they were observing a huge firework display. And then wandering through the devastated East End observing the apparently unperturbed stoic locals as their homes were destroyed. The book ends rather abruptly and the tying up of some of the storylines were a little forced. I also got the feeling that there will be more books from Holland featuring the inhabitants of Alvesdon.
I loved Holland’s Jack Tanner series and aspects of the second half of “Alvesdon” reminded me of those books. The first half of the book as I have said was well done and authentic but I did I find it less engaging. Overall it is a little lightweight but it's still worth a read and is entertaining enough.
February 28, 2025
“Alvesdon” is a novel that grew on me. It has rather a slow start, and my heart sank when I saw the long list of dramatis personae - how on earth was I going to remember who was who? I found myself being ultra-critical - was that a bit clunky or stilted? Was this going to be cliched - the worst of Downton Abbey or Upstairs Downstairs? Would there be a test later on squadron and regiment names and numbers?
But that didn’t last long. I was soon swept into some beautiful descriptions of this green and pleasant land on the verge of war. I was reminded of Mary Wesley’s “Camomile Lawn” or Louis de Berniere’s Daniel Pitt trilogy. And once the action started, I was completely immersed. The author has constructed a compelling story from so many different characters’ points of view - with skill and aplomb. The action sequences are very effective - reminded me of the recent “Dunkirk” film as well as older novels such as V. M. Yeates’ “Winged Victory.”
“Alvesdon” is simultaneously comforting and stirring - it has the feel of a novel written in the 20th century - in a good way. Running through it is the theme of decency and courage of people from all generations and social classes - of community, responsibilty, looking out for others and knowing what you are fighting for, what is to be defended and preserved - patriotism at its best. The part of the famers in the war as the 4th service is well-conveyed.
Although they came from Kent, not Wiltshire, I could sense much in common with my own family during this time. Reading “Alvesdon” brought back memories of my grandparents, the photos, the stories they told.
“Great events happened - kings abdicated, dictators crossed borders, factories made tanks and guns and aircraft - yet here, in this tiny corner of South-West Wiltshire, time seemed to stand still.”
I look forward to the sequel!
But that didn’t last long. I was soon swept into some beautiful descriptions of this green and pleasant land on the verge of war. I was reminded of Mary Wesley’s “Camomile Lawn” or Louis de Berniere’s Daniel Pitt trilogy. And once the action started, I was completely immersed. The author has constructed a compelling story from so many different characters’ points of view - with skill and aplomb. The action sequences are very effective - reminded me of the recent “Dunkirk” film as well as older novels such as V. M. Yeates’ “Winged Victory.”
“Alvesdon” is simultaneously comforting and stirring - it has the feel of a novel written in the 20th century - in a good way. Running through it is the theme of decency and courage of people from all generations and social classes - of community, responsibilty, looking out for others and knowing what you are fighting for, what is to be defended and preserved - patriotism at its best. The part of the famers in the war as the 4th service is well-conveyed.
Although they came from Kent, not Wiltshire, I could sense much in common with my own family during this time. Reading “Alvesdon” brought back memories of my grandparents, the photos, the stories they told.
“Great events happened - kings abdicated, dictators crossed borders, factories made tanks and guns and aircraft - yet here, in this tiny corner of South-West Wiltshire, time seemed to stand still.”
I look forward to the sequel!
August 30, 2025
A five star novel if ever there was one. James Holland is a man of many talents. He can write thoroughly researched military history, what I call ‘Boys Own’ adventure stories and now this sweeping saga of life in rural Wiltshire and how it was affected by the approach of war and then by the conflict itself.
There are family conflicts, tragedy, laughter, disappointment and exciting spells of action. It’s got everything. My own novels have been predominantly set in pre war and wartime London amongst the working and middle classes so ALVESDON has been an entirely new field for me set, as it is, amongst a rural community whose leaders are wealthy public school educated and whose followers are from the hard working and skilful working class.
A superb piece of fiction.
David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil, Liberating Belsen, Two Families at War, The Summer of ‘39, (all published by Sacristy Press) and Ordinary Heroes (published by I M Books)
There are family conflicts, tragedy, laughter, disappointment and exciting spells of action. It’s got everything. My own novels have been predominantly set in pre war and wartime London amongst the working and middle classes so ALVESDON has been an entirely new field for me set, as it is, amongst a rural community whose leaders are wealthy public school educated and whose followers are from the hard working and skilful working class.
A superb piece of fiction.
David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil, Liberating Belsen, Two Families at War, The Summer of ‘39, (all published by Sacristy Press) and Ordinary Heroes (published by I M Books)
May 25, 2024
The village of Alvesdon has been home to the Castells for generations. But the year is 1939 and the peace and tranquillity there is about to be shattered once more by the stormclouds of war in Europe. As three generations of the family gather, they must all face the prospect of their lives being transformed beyond recognition the moment Britain declares war on Germany.
There are a lot of people introduced early in the novel which I found difficult to remember who was who but as the story unfolds the characters begin to stick. It’s well paced and written, giving the genuine feel of the time. Good description helps build the story picture. I particularly liked the mood around the declaration of war and how it must have felt. The not knowing and apprehension at the time is almost palpable. On the whole, it’s a good read. In
There are a lot of people introduced early in the novel which I found difficult to remember who was who but as the story unfolds the characters begin to stick. It’s well paced and written, giving the genuine feel of the time. Good description helps build the story picture. I particularly liked the mood around the declaration of war and how it must have felt. The not knowing and apprehension at the time is almost palpable. On the whole, it’s a good read. In
February 28, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed this, wish I could’ve just sat and read it over a few days but even over the course of a few weeks I didn’t lose interest.
Initially I wondered what it was going to be about, thinking just covering a year of WW2 was going to feel out of place but the the pacing was perfect, hitting all the major pertinent events in a seamless manner while still maintains great character development throughout.
I’m also so impressed with Hollands knowledge and research skills. Having now looked at his other books & CV this makes sense, but his understanding of the period really is incredible.
My only critique, which really could be considered a positive, is that I wanted more. There were so many characters and for the purposes of this book they had the perfect amount of depth but I wanted spin offs on all of them.
Initially I wondered what it was going to be about, thinking just covering a year of WW2 was going to feel out of place but the the pacing was perfect, hitting all the major pertinent events in a seamless manner while still maintains great character development throughout.
I’m also so impressed with Hollands knowledge and research skills. Having now looked at his other books & CV this makes sense, but his understanding of the period really is incredible.
My only critique, which really could be considered a positive, is that I wanted more. There were so many characters and for the purposes of this book they had the perfect amount of depth but I wanted spin offs on all of them.
June 25, 2024
Thoroughly enjoyable read!
Loved the authenticity of the dialogue between the characters - I could even hear Celia Johnson’s voice in my head at intervals.
The inclusion of the Sherman Rangers Yeomanry and the prospect of transitioning from horses to mechanisation was a nice and interesting touch. I confess to being terrified that one of the characters was going to fall victim to what was the real life, tragic bombing of the Cafe de Paris. I was also super curious how the novel would end given the timeline, but it concluded perfectly neatly and effortlessly.
My only minor criticism is that some of the ‘love and romance stuff’ and the inter class exchanges were a little cheesy and somewhat cliched (but that’s just my personal opinion. Others may completely disagree)
Loved the authenticity of the dialogue between the characters - I could even hear Celia Johnson’s voice in my head at intervals.
The inclusion of the Sherman Rangers Yeomanry and the prospect of transitioning from horses to mechanisation was a nice and interesting touch. I confess to being terrified that one of the characters was going to fall victim to what was the real life, tragic bombing of the Cafe de Paris. I was also super curious how the novel would end given the timeline, but it concluded perfectly neatly and effortlessly.
My only minor criticism is that some of the ‘love and romance stuff’ and the inter class exchanges were a little cheesy and somewhat cliched (but that’s just my personal opinion. Others may completely disagree)
May 7, 2025
Alvesdon is a non fiction novel by James Holland, focusing primarily on the emotional turmoil following the outbreak and subsequent early years of WW2.
From start to finish, Holland perfectly captures the effects of war on the characters it follows. I think, what is also clever, is the pure, raw and exciting manner of story telling. From the comforts of home to the horrors of the battlefield, no stone is unturned.
Yes, there are quite a lot of characters, all of whom have their own story, but I think this adds to the experience as a whole. I would suggest that the door is open for a sequel, which may in turn showcase the final years of war, but either way, if that doesn’t happen, I think this novel comes together well.
A strong five out of five.
From start to finish, Holland perfectly captures the effects of war on the characters it follows. I think, what is also clever, is the pure, raw and exciting manner of story telling. From the comforts of home to the horrors of the battlefield, no stone is unturned.
Yes, there are quite a lot of characters, all of whom have their own story, but I think this adds to the experience as a whole. I would suggest that the door is open for a sequel, which may in turn showcase the final years of war, but either way, if that doesn’t happen, I think this novel comes together well.
A strong five out of five.
August 2, 2024
This reads a little like "The Darling Buds of May" goes to war. The portrait of Britain leading up to, and in the early stages of, World War II feels authentic and showcases Holland's historical interests. The family saga, relationships and characters are mostly fairly bland. However the star of the show is undoubtedly the beautifully Wiltshire landscape which James Holland effectively spends most of the novel eulogising. Perfect reading for lazy summer days in the countryside. Special thank you to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and NetGalley for a no obligation advance digital review copy.
September 29, 2024
This was a bit of a slog to get through but an enjoyable story nonetheless. It’d make a better tv series than a book, I got Downton Abbey/The Crown vibes.
Set at the beginning of the Second World War and the interconnecting families and workers of rural Alvesdon. Lots and lots of characters but the author made them easy to follow. Then it was lots of little humdrum story lines set with various male characters being posted to war and the female characters pining for their loves at home. I think it could have been better without the nerdy war passages of planes flying and shooting at each other and kept to life at home.
Was probably a touch too long for a book.
Set at the beginning of the Second World War and the interconnecting families and workers of rural Alvesdon. Lots and lots of characters but the author made them easy to follow. Then it was lots of little humdrum story lines set with various male characters being posted to war and the female characters pining for their loves at home. I think it could have been better without the nerdy war passages of planes flying and shooting at each other and kept to life at home.
Was probably a touch too long for a book.
March 27, 2025
I think if I had the option I might give it 3.5 stars because I found the characterisation lacking a little - with the exception of Denholm, Maimes and Alwyn, everyone else seemed to be portrayed identically: noble, brave, warm, sentimental, modern... All of which makes it a little hard to distinguish at times - but it's a well-told tale of the first 14 months of WW2, and meticulously researched as of course you'd expect from Holland. The meetings and political discussions were particularly strong for that reason, as were the chapters centred on farming life in Alvesdon. It feels very much like the first of six installments...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2025
I didn’t want to leave this book I felt so at home in the Wiltshire countryside with its characters. This book was so immersive which is the benefit of a WW2 historian bringing his tremendous knowledge and applying it to the daily lives of villagers in alverston. I lived in Wiltshire for much of my teenage and early 2Os I loved it on the downs and the imagery was so evocative. It felt like a war time Archers serial. Through the eyes of several country families coping with war on the home front and overseas through friends lovers and relatives. Yet it was so heartwarming without being twee
Delightful my favourite book this year!
Delightful my favourite book this year!
May 6, 2025
The first year of the war for Britain through the eyes of a rural family.
James Holland is a military historian and I have read many of his non-fiction books with interest and pleasure. His "Jack Tanner" books weren't bad either.
"Alvesdon" feels like "Downton Abbey" and "Foyle's War" rolled into one with parts from John Masters' "Man of War" and Herman Wouk's "Winds of War".
However, the enormous cast of characters is bland, interchangeable and unbelievably lucky in life and love. The only character that shines is the landscape of Wiltshire. It made it easy to skip to the end.
I recommend reading James Holland's non-fiction or the novels by Masters and/or Wouk.
James Holland is a military historian and I have read many of his non-fiction books with interest and pleasure. His "Jack Tanner" books weren't bad either.
"Alvesdon" feels like "Downton Abbey" and "Foyle's War" rolled into one with parts from John Masters' "Man of War" and Herman Wouk's "Winds of War".
However, the enormous cast of characters is bland, interchangeable and unbelievably lucky in life and love. The only character that shines is the landscape of Wiltshire. It made it easy to skip to the end.
I recommend reading James Holland's non-fiction or the novels by Masters and/or Wouk.
December 2, 2025
Set in Wiltshire, just before the outbreak of World War II. This is the story of the Castell family both at home and fighting abroad. Having already been through the first World War they know what to expect and hope that they will be as lucky at the end of this new conflict.
I liked the characters, but found the story a bit slow moving. As with a lot of family sagas at this time some go to war, some stay at home, some survive, others are wounded and various characters fair well or drift apart romantically. It was just all a bit unoriginal. Well written though if you like these kinds of novels.
I liked the characters, but found the story a bit slow moving. As with a lot of family sagas at this time some go to war, some stay at home, some survive, others are wounded and various characters fair well or drift apart romantically. It was just all a bit unoriginal. Well written though if you like these kinds of novels.
April 14, 2025
Very enjoyable story that will undoubtedly be the first of several. It is set in a Wiltshire village at the time of the outbreak of the 2nd World War . It follows 3 generations of the Castell family , who are the main landowners and their workers. The book conveys well the farming and community at the time , the lead up to the war , and then follows the main characters ( male and female) in the war effort whether in the services or back at home through to the Battle of Britain . Holland's historical knowledge is reflected throughout the book .
August 24, 2025
Highly readable poolside fiction. Lacks realism and credibility. Hard to put one’s finger on it exactly. The ludicrous fake regiment names really irritated me. Stork is the least credible to me and doesn’t seem to have the attitudes or behaviours of a Victorian. Lots of odd stuff. Maybe they could have happened or been how one particular family behaved but the characters’ vocabulary jars and it is best not taken too seriously.
February 24, 2025
There are alot of characters in this book and it can be confusing keeping up with who is who. However, the book is interesting and well written and I can see it would be good as a TV series. The way the book has ended indicates there may be a sequel as there is so much more that can be written as a follow on.
April 15, 2025
great read
Really enjoyable! A great read mixing James’ knowledge with some lovely story arcs and well realised believable characters. Books are a very personal thing so it’s difficult to recommend to other people as all our tastes are very different - but check this one out and give it a go if it is of interest!
Really enjoyable! A great read mixing James’ knowledge with some lovely story arcs and well realised believable characters. Books are a very personal thing so it’s difficult to recommend to other people as all our tastes are very different - but check this one out and give it a go if it is of interest!
June 27, 2025
James Holland is a first rate historian and I enjoyed his non-fiction works very much. He is not a fiction writer, however, and although this was a pleasant and easy read it was a bit too Enid Blyton for adults. The author’s extraordinary knowledge around the Second World War intervenes through the narrative and makes this novel a four star instead of a three.
July 25, 2025
Absolutely loved this book! This book makes you fall in love with every single character and leaves you turning every page with anticipation. James Holland has encompassed all the fears and dreams of individuals living within 1939 and 1940 and has created such a beautiful family filled with characters that you care deeply for. highly recommend.
January 26, 2025
Lovely book set in the UK during WWII. Really about a farming family and their town and friends. Introduces some interesting insights into living through that period. A very charming book. Enjoyed it.
February 1, 2025
A surprisingly good read. One of my favourite genres of WW2 historical fiction... but had so much factual drama in it. I felt I was there in the midst of the battles and struggles that the people endured.
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