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Fallen Skies
Lily Valance wants to forget the war. She's determined to enjoy the world of the 1920s, with its music, singing, laughter and pleasure.
When she meets Captain Stephen Winters, a decorated hero back from the Front, she's drawn to his wealth and status. In Lily he sees his salvation – from the past, from the nightmare, from the guilt at surviving the Flanders plains where so many were lost. But it's a dream that cannot last. Lily has no intention of leaving her singing career.
The hidden tensions of the respectable facade of the Winters household come to a head. Stephen's nightmares merge ever closer with reality and the truth of what took place in the mud and darkness brings him and all who loves him to a terrible reckoning ...
When she meets Captain Stephen Winters, a decorated hero back from the Front, she's drawn to his wealth and status. In Lily he sees his salvation – from the past, from the nightmare, from the guilt at surviving the Flanders plains where so many were lost. But it's a dream that cannot last. Lily has no intention of leaving her singing career.
The hidden tensions of the respectable facade of the Winters household come to a head. Stephen's nightmares merge ever closer with reality and the truth of what took place in the mud and darkness brings him and all who loves him to a terrible reckoning ...
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First published July 1, 1995
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About the author
Philippa Gregory
133 books36.7k followersDR PHILIPPA GREGORY studied history at the University of Sussex and was awarded a PhD by the University of Edinburgh where she is a Regent and was made Alumna of the Year in 2009. She holds an honorary degree from Teesside University, and is a fellow of the Universities of Sussex and Cardiff. Philippa is a member of the Society of Authors and in 2016, was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Historical Fiction Award by the Historical Writers’ Association. In 2018, she was awarded an Honorary Platinum Award by Neilsen for achieving significant lifetime sales across her entire book output. In 2021, she was awarded a CBE for services to literature and to her charity Gardens for the Gambia. and was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
She welcomes visitors to her site www.PhilippaGregory.com.
Philippa's Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/PhilippaGregoryOfficial
She welcomes visitors to her site www.PhilippaGregory.com.
Philippa's Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/PhilippaGregoryOfficial
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 490 reviews
July 3, 2017
”’I tell you Lily is my saviour! She is free of the smell of it, free of the sound of it, free of the knowledge of it. How it happened I don’t know but it hasn’t touched her or spoiled her or corrupted her. When she’s beside me I feel clean again. I can’t tell you how or why. But if I don’t marry her and have her for ever, for ever, Mother, then I will go m…m…m…’ He snatched a deep breath to say the word. ‘Mad.’”
1.5 out of 5 stars
Have you ever reread a book, looked at the original rating you gave it and thought to yourself, “Man, what the fuck was I thinking?” That’s the same reaction I had when I reread this book. How I gave it such a high rating to begin with I’ll never really know, but after this reread, it cements its status as a book containing some of the worst characters I’ve read about in a long time. And a main character who quite possibly makes the worst romantic decision than Anastasia Steele did when she picked Christian Gray.
Lily Valence is a small-town girl with big dreams. Raised by her single mother after her father dies, Lily wants to make a name for herself on the stage as a musician, as well as advance in her social status. She may have found her opportunity after she meets the handsome and dashing Captain Stephen Winters. Stephen finds in Lily a newfound hope and lust for life, something he so desperately needs after his traumatic experiences during the Great War.
Never have I, or will I, or seemingly will ever in the future, meet a character as despicable, selfish and cold as Stephen Winters. And unfortunately for the reader, he’s the main fucking character, which made this book extremely unbearable to read about. From his creepy obsession with Lily to his eventual abuse of power over her, to his rambling thoughts filled with nothing but hatred, Stephen Winters has not one good, redeeming quality about him. He hates his wife, is ashamed of his father, and despises his infant son because of all the attention Lily is giving to him and not to Stephen. And his behavior is made even worse by his mother’s constant coddling of him. One particular scene had me so incensed that I contemplated throwing the book out the window while saying a string of expletives not appropriate to print I this review. I hated him THAT MUCH. He’s absolutely bonkers over his wife (and not in a good way), and he pretty much hates every single human entity that comes into his path. Lily Valance included.
Lily isn’t that much better of a character, either. She’s a free-spirited girl who would love nothing more than to forget the war ever happened. And when she meets Stephen, she thinks she can help him do exactly that, despite the fact that she’s in love with Charlie Smith, the bandleader. She chooses Stephen instead, and MAN did she ever make a mistake. The entire time, I was literally yelling at Lily (yes, I yelled at a book. Don’t judge me), that YOU PICKED THE WRONG PERSON, DAMMIT. At the same time, I was yelling at Charlie for letting her go like that and then feeling all guilty about it later. YOU HAD THE PERFECT FUCKING OPPORTUNITY, BUT YOU DIDN’T TAKE IT. They could’ve saved themselves a lot of trouble if he had just, ya know, picked up his manhood and married her after all. She becomes a bit stronger of a person in the end, but for most of the novel she’s rather stupid in other important areas, such as her romantic endeavors. I mean, you honestly just claimed that you accepted his proposal because you were tired and wanted him to shut up? REALLY?
And that ending. That ending. That. Ending. It was left on SUCH a cliffhanger that the reader has no idea how it actually ends. You’re left with more questions than answers, which is immensely frustrating. I also thought the whole was not entirely necessary. I’m also not entirely sure what happened to Stephen and his friend Coventry during the war that made them so damaged, so either I missed it or it wasn’t explained.
This book is absolutely bonkers, and not in a good way. The characters are absolutely despicable, and you’ll want nothing more than to throw this book out the nearest window while stringing together those expletives that you can’t print on paper. Do this in the privacy of your own home, since if you did it in public people might think you’re a little bit cuckoo. But than again, it’d make you rather similar to the characters in the book, wouldn’t it.
If you want good, trashy crazy, read the author’s Wideacre trilogy. And I’ll probably end up doing just that to bleach my brain’s memories of this book.
1.5 out of 5 stars
Have you ever reread a book, looked at the original rating you gave it and thought to yourself, “Man, what the fuck was I thinking?” That’s the same reaction I had when I reread this book. How I gave it such a high rating to begin with I’ll never really know, but after this reread, it cements its status as a book containing some of the worst characters I’ve read about in a long time. And a main character who quite possibly makes the worst romantic decision than Anastasia Steele did when she picked Christian Gray.
Lily Valence is a small-town girl with big dreams. Raised by her single mother after her father dies, Lily wants to make a name for herself on the stage as a musician, as well as advance in her social status. She may have found her opportunity after she meets the handsome and dashing Captain Stephen Winters. Stephen finds in Lily a newfound hope and lust for life, something he so desperately needs after his traumatic experiences during the Great War.
”He was excited by her rejection of the war; he felt elated as if she could set him free from his nightmares, free from his sense that the war could never end while he, and all the men scarred like him, fought it and re-fought it in their dreams. ”He falls madly in love, despite the grumbling disapprovals from his mother. And despite her lack of romantic love for him, Lily agrees to marry him. Soon after, Lily comes to realize that Stephen’s demons are worse than realized, with his dark obsessions and terrifying visions becoming reality. Fearing his control over her life and his mercurial personality, Lily must carve a path out for herself to escape the marriage that was once promising, but has now descended into a world of madness, greed, control, and mind games.
Never have I, or will I, or seemingly will ever in the future, meet a character as despicable, selfish and cold as Stephen Winters. And unfortunately for the reader, he’s the main fucking character, which made this book extremely unbearable to read about. From his creepy obsession with Lily to his eventual abuse of power over her, to his rambling thoughts filled with nothing but hatred, Stephen Winters has not one good, redeeming quality about him. He hates his wife, is ashamed of his father, and despises his infant son because of all the attention Lily is giving to him and not to Stephen. And his behavior is made even worse by his mother’s constant coddling of him. One particular scene had me so incensed that I contemplated throwing the book out the window while saying a string of expletives not appropriate to print I this review. I hated him THAT MUCH. He’s absolutely bonkers over his wife (and not in a good way), and he pretty much hates every single human entity that comes into his path. Lily Valance included.
”He wanted to see her pay for every little slight he had suffered since his marriage. He wanted her to pay for every light-hearted moment when her natural joy bubbled up. He wanted her to pay for making his house a place where you could hear music, and slamming doors, and running feet on the stairs, and the doorbell ringing with callers. He wanted her to pay for being a child of peace, while he was still locked in the war”Their marriage is the poster child for unhealthy relationships.
Lily isn’t that much better of a character, either. She’s a free-spirited girl who would love nothing more than to forget the war ever happened. And when she meets Stephen, she thinks she can help him do exactly that, despite the fact that she’s in love with Charlie Smith, the bandleader. She chooses Stephen instead, and MAN did she ever make a mistake. The entire time, I was literally yelling at Lily (yes, I yelled at a book. Don’t judge me), that YOU PICKED THE WRONG PERSON, DAMMIT. At the same time, I was yelling at Charlie for letting her go like that and then feeling all guilty about it later. YOU HAD THE PERFECT FUCKING OPPORTUNITY, BUT YOU DIDN’T TAKE IT. They could’ve saved themselves a lot of trouble if he had just, ya know, picked up his manhood and married her after all. She becomes a bit stronger of a person in the end, but for most of the novel she’s rather stupid in other important areas, such as her romantic endeavors. I mean, you honestly just claimed that you accepted his proposal because you were tired and wanted him to shut up? REALLY?
And that ending. That ending. That. Ending. It was left on SUCH a cliffhanger that the reader has no idea how it actually ends. You’re left with more questions than answers, which is immensely frustrating. I also thought the whole was not entirely necessary. I’m also not entirely sure what happened to Stephen and his friend Coventry during the war that made them so damaged, so either I missed it or it wasn’t explained.
This book is absolutely bonkers, and not in a good way. The characters are absolutely despicable, and you’ll want nothing more than to throw this book out the nearest window while stringing together those expletives that you can’t print on paper. Do this in the privacy of your own home, since if you did it in public people might think you’re a little bit cuckoo. But than again, it’d make you rather similar to the characters in the book, wouldn’t it.
If you want good, trashy crazy, read the author’s Wideacre trilogy. And I’ll probably end up doing just that to bleach my brain’s memories of this book.
February 15, 2009
i did enjoy this . it is rather the equivalent of a sunday evening BBC costume drama in being well written , having a firm story line , clearly defined characters and being a bit of a page turner into the bargain . it is reassuringly safe and engrossing
set after WW1 it is a family drama involving a bullying ,cold , rich solicitor dehumanised by the war and his inferiority complex as the not so good son , his failed marriage to a younger , poorer and in his snobbish eyes not quite the right class , heroine Lily . he had hoped that she would cleanse him of his war nightmares but she does not play the timid supportive wife and he become madly jealous at her popularity and success . she thrives when she becomes pregnant and he goes off the rails completely .
family skeletons abound , class divisions heave into view , an irrevocably stroke ridden father recovers his speech thanks to his daughter in law , an appalling was secret is exposed and it all finishes dramatically and satisfyingly . Lily is a bit too perfect and modern naturally but the novel has no pretensions to greatness and i enjoyed it thoroughly .
set after WW1 it is a family drama involving a bullying ,cold , rich solicitor dehumanised by the war and his inferiority complex as the not so good son , his failed marriage to a younger , poorer and in his snobbish eyes not quite the right class , heroine Lily . he had hoped that she would cleanse him of his war nightmares but she does not play the timid supportive wife and he become madly jealous at her popularity and success . she thrives when she becomes pregnant and he goes off the rails completely .
family skeletons abound , class divisions heave into view , an irrevocably stroke ridden father recovers his speech thanks to his daughter in law , an appalling was secret is exposed and it all finishes dramatically and satisfyingly . Lily is a bit too perfect and modern naturally but the novel has no pretensions to greatness and i enjoyed it thoroughly .
July 16, 2013
This is the story of a young woman who works as a singer in post World War I England and the wealthy war hero she marries. I am a fan of Philippa Gregory in general but I recently read Wideacre and that was awful, so I checked the reviews on Goodreads before starting this one. It seems that views are polarised, but for those who did not like it the main criticism is that it is depressing. Well, that's war for you. I am not quite sure what people were expecting, Gregory's books are often about the powerlessness of women in history. Her most popular book, The Other Boleyn Girl, hardly ended well for any of the Boleyn siblings.
Our protagonist is not the most lovable of people, she is quite selfish and shallow, but so are many people when they are teenagers. She ends up in a situation where she feels that she must marry a man that she does not love. This man turns out to have some terrible mental issues as a result of World War I and possibly also from his upbringing. It is indeed a sad story, but raises some thought-provoking issues about class, war and it's effect on people and the relationship between husband and wife and how that has changed (thankfully).
This period between the two World Wars is my second favourite in English history (after the reign of the Tudors). It was a fascinating time, and, although it was terrible for those who lived through it, Great Britain would not be the country it is today had it not been for these two awful wars. I find novels telling the stories of individuals who coped with those massive societal changes fascinating.
The title of the novel is taken from a part of Lady Chatterley's Lover, where the current age is discussed. He says how people in 1920s England had to go on living, despite the fact that their skies had fallen. Despite the fact that they had lost brothers, sons, husbands and homes. Despite the fact that women had been given freedom to work during the war only to have to go back to the home when the few men returned. Despite the fact that many of the men returning were mentally or physically damaged. Despite the fact that many things that they thought they knew about the class divide had changed. Going on living with fallen skies is what the characters in this novel did, and what so many Europeans did after World War I. Gregory paints an interesting picture of this period.
click here to read the rest of my reviews
Our protagonist is not the most lovable of people, she is quite selfish and shallow, but so are many people when they are teenagers. She ends up in a situation where she feels that she must marry a man that she does not love. This man turns out to have some terrible mental issues as a result of World War I and possibly also from his upbringing. It is indeed a sad story, but raises some thought-provoking issues about class, war and it's effect on people and the relationship between husband and wife and how that has changed (thankfully).
This period between the two World Wars is my second favourite in English history (after the reign of the Tudors). It was a fascinating time, and, although it was terrible for those who lived through it, Great Britain would not be the country it is today had it not been for these two awful wars. I find novels telling the stories of individuals who coped with those massive societal changes fascinating.
The title of the novel is taken from a part of Lady Chatterley's Lover, where the current age is discussed. He says how people in 1920s England had to go on living, despite the fact that their skies had fallen. Despite the fact that they had lost brothers, sons, husbands and homes. Despite the fact that women had been given freedom to work during the war only to have to go back to the home when the few men returned. Despite the fact that many of the men returning were mentally or physically damaged. Despite the fact that many things that they thought they knew about the class divide had changed. Going on living with fallen skies is what the characters in this novel did, and what so many Europeans did after World War I. Gregory paints an interesting picture of this period.
click here to read the rest of my reviews
January 6, 2009
So far my least favorite of this author. I have read most of her others, that take place during the time ,of King Henry VIII, a period I love.
This book takes place after WWI, and although I wanted to find out how it ended, I did not enjoy is as much as The Boleyn Inheritance, The Other Boleyn Girl (which far surpasses the movie), and The Queens Fool. I have read a total of nine of her books so far. And on my to read list is her latest The Other Queen.
This book takes place after WWI, and although I wanted to find out how it ended, I did not enjoy is as much as The Boleyn Inheritance, The Other Boleyn Girl (which far surpasses the movie), and The Queens Fool. I have read a total of nine of her books so far. And on my to read list is her latest The Other Queen.
June 20, 2009
I hadn't expected to enjoy Fallen Skies as much as I did. I still maintain that "The Other Boleyn Girl" is her best book, but this is way up there near the top of my list.
The vivid descriptions of the vaudeville theater, and the delicious glimpses of 1920s Portsmouth and Southampton, were so much fun. My heart thudded and ached in syncopation with Lily's. I was most definitely drawn into this book from the first few pages, and sad when it ended because I wanted there to be more of it to read!
This is an affective and beautiful story. Her Tudor novels aside, Gregory's created several of her best-written characters here. I really recommend it for theatre geeks, and histfic readers alike (though not for those seeking a bodice-ripper...this is more of a family drama than a gratuitous romance, however much it tugs at the heartstrings.) And there is some violence and gore, so don't choose it if you're after a light weekend read.
It was a fabulous way to spend my weekend, though. Excellent book!
The vivid descriptions of the vaudeville theater, and the delicious glimpses of 1920s Portsmouth and Southampton, were so much fun. My heart thudded and ached in syncopation with Lily's. I was most definitely drawn into this book from the first few pages, and sad when it ended because I wanted there to be more of it to read!
This is an affective and beautiful story. Her Tudor novels aside, Gregory's created several of her best-written characters here. I really recommend it for theatre geeks, and histfic readers alike (though not for those seeking a bodice-ripper...this is more of a family drama than a gratuitous romance, however much it tugs at the heartstrings.) And there is some violence and gore, so don't choose it if you're after a light weekend read.
It was a fabulous way to spend my weekend, though. Excellent book!
May 12, 2020
I will also do a video review here at my channel: http://www.youtube.com/magicofbooks
"Fallen Skies" by Philippa Gregory takes place in post World War I England, following wealthy war hero Stephen Winters and stage singer Lily Valance. Both are determined to forget about the war and move on with their lives. What follows is a rushed marriage that leads to repression, violence, and jealousy. For Stephen, the war has never truly gone and the reality of what he did during the war will lead his life down a dark path, leaving Lily as a pawn in his new twisted warped reality.
Philippa Gregory did not let me down! I loved this book! Initially, when I started, it was slow going as Gregory sets up the story and the characters. The synopsis on the back of the book pretty much spoils that Lily and Stephen will get married, but that doesn't even happen for about 150 pages or so. Gregory spends a lot of time setting up where in life these two characters are at and what circumstances force them together. The book is a slow burn. You need to understand these characters, the environment they are coming from, and the time period they live in in order to fully appreciate the shocking ending to this novel. This is a novel about a war nobody wanted to participate in. It's about coming out of this war and the changes that it causes to the established heirarchy of the time period. It's about traditional ways versus new modern ways. It's about PTSD and how people cope with it. It's a rejection of romanticizing war and war heroes and looking at the harsh reality of what war does. There are a lot of disturbing scenes in this book and characters that are beyond redemption. This book isn't for everyone. The ratings and reviews on Goodreads are all over the place, with some people loving this book and others hating it. Some reviewers are caught up on just focusing on the horrible characters rather than really paying attention to what Philippa Gregory was doing with this book. And if that's how you read the book, then that's perfectly okay. For me, this book is much more than what is on the surface and I appreciated the story Gregory was telling and where it ultimately lead. Next I'll head into some specifics with the characters.
Stephen is a man of class and privilege. He has come back from the first World War mentally damaged and broken. He has come back from a war he never wanted to participate in to begin with. At this time in history, PTSD was known as shellshock, and for Stephen's "stiff upper lip" family, his shellshock is seen as an embarrassment and he should feel ashamed by something he can't control. What Philippa Gregory does brilliantly with this book is to explore this notion of how war can often be romanticized, but with the character of Stephen she rejects that viewpoint by depicting Stephen as a horrible human being. Yes, the war mentally destroyed him, but the war also exacerbated what was most likely already wrong with him before the war. Stephen is controlling, manipulative, and the way he treats Lily is absolutely appalling. To him, all women are whores. He sees the world in a very traditional way for that time in the 1920s. As mentioned, he is upper class, and with that comes a certain set of rules and standards and if someone goes against that, they are seen as odd and uncultured, the lowest of society. Over the course of the novel, through flashbacks, Gregory does reveal what exactly happened during the war. Once all of this is revealed, you finally understand him as a character and why he does what he does, why he says what he says. Stephen is a strange character, for you the reader. There's a part of you that wants to sympathize with him because you know that in a modern setting he would be getting the help and support he truly needs. But on the other hand, the war is also just an excuse. Like I mentioned, the war only exacerbated what was already wrong with him before even going to war. Stephen is one of the most despicable characters you will ever read. His actions and motives are intolerable. He is not this idealized war hero who comes back, gets the girl, and lives a happily ever after life. He is warped and his actions unforgivable. And that's what makes him a fascinating character in my opinion.
Let's talk about Lily next. Lily is the most sympathetic character in this novel, but she too has her moments that you are irritated with her. Gregory never gives specifics, but we are given that Lily is quite a bit younger than Stephen (Gregory downright says Lily is about eighteen and Lily often says Stephen is too old for her, which I took to mean that Stephen was maybe in his early thirties possibly). When we first meet Lily she is a stage singer and her mother basically runs her life, always telling her to focus on her career, never get married. Lily also has a crush on a man who plays the piano named Charlie Smith. Charlie has been through some things during the war and has a secret why he and Lily could never be together. Despite this complication, as the reader you find yourself wanting Charlie and Lily to be together, because by this point Stephen has been introduced to her and you already get the vibe that Stephen is no good for her and something is off. After a tragedy, Stephen essentially forces Lily to marry him and in turn she has to give up part of the things she loves, that including her career and Charlie. As I discussed with Stephen, Lily doesn't get this idealized marriage and she regrets the marriage instantly. Like I mentioned, Lily has her moments that you find her irritating and horrible, but not nearly so like Stephen. Lily is bitter at the war, the changes that the war caused. She's rather selfish and vain. She's dislikes the war veterans who beg for money and employment. And she sees Stephen's shellshock as disgusting and embarrassing. Really, the only reason you are on Lily's side during this whole novel is because the things Stephen does to her are intolerable. She's forced into this marriage. She's forced to have sex with him. He abuses her physically and mentally. So I could easily forgive her naive behavior. This novel goes to some truly climatic places by the end and the whole time you are wanting Lily to escape this hell.
This novel has such a great cast of characters, and for the most part, none of them are very likable. Stephen's mother is a control freak and really holds on to the old traditional ways of what marriage should be like. Stephen's father is probably one of the more sympathetic characters because he has suffered a stroke prior to the novel starting and his own wife and son treat him like garbage, embarrassed by his illness. Charlie Smith was a pure angel. I did find myself wishing he would do more for Lily, but in order to help her, Lily really needed to help herself first. And oh boy, Coventry. Let me spend a moment on Coventry. He seriously was an unexpected favorite character of mine. Coventry was in the war with Stephen and was accomplice to things that happened, and is accomplice to other things that happen during the marriage to Lily. Coventry is 100% loyal to Stephen, playing the role of not only chauffeur, but also a listening ear. Because of the war, Coventry has gone mute, he refuses to speak, suffering his own PTSD alongside Stephen. Coventry is always warm and pleasant to Lily. I was curious if Coventry was in love with Stephen. Or maybe even started falling in love with Lily. When describing Coventry and Stephen, Gregory often uses the words "close as lovers" whenever they are in a scene together, so I don't know if there was a slight relationship there that we were supposed to infer. Coventry was easily one of the more interesting characters by the fact that he never spoke and you got the idea he was keeping some sort of secret, holding back his own pain, but being there to support Stephen.
So a very long review of this book, and hopefully I've not spoiled too much. I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. The beginning can be a bit slow, but every chapter builds and builds until you get to the very shocking climatic ending. You do end this book with questions. For the most part, a lot is answered, but a lot is left unanswered and you are questioning where the story could go next. Philippa Gregory was trying to tell a certain message with this novel, and I think she achieved that. You may not like the characters, you may totally despise them, but the novel is more than that. The book really made me appreciate our modern life and how we view mental health like PTSD and the treatments involved. I always say Philippa Gregory is one of my favorite authors, and she has produced yet another novel that I love.
"Fallen Skies" by Philippa Gregory takes place in post World War I England, following wealthy war hero Stephen Winters and stage singer Lily Valance. Both are determined to forget about the war and move on with their lives. What follows is a rushed marriage that leads to repression, violence, and jealousy. For Stephen, the war has never truly gone and the reality of what he did during the war will lead his life down a dark path, leaving Lily as a pawn in his new twisted warped reality.
Philippa Gregory did not let me down! I loved this book! Initially, when I started, it was slow going as Gregory sets up the story and the characters. The synopsis on the back of the book pretty much spoils that Lily and Stephen will get married, but that doesn't even happen for about 150 pages or so. Gregory spends a lot of time setting up where in life these two characters are at and what circumstances force them together. The book is a slow burn. You need to understand these characters, the environment they are coming from, and the time period they live in in order to fully appreciate the shocking ending to this novel. This is a novel about a war nobody wanted to participate in. It's about coming out of this war and the changes that it causes to the established heirarchy of the time period. It's about traditional ways versus new modern ways. It's about PTSD and how people cope with it. It's a rejection of romanticizing war and war heroes and looking at the harsh reality of what war does. There are a lot of disturbing scenes in this book and characters that are beyond redemption. This book isn't for everyone. The ratings and reviews on Goodreads are all over the place, with some people loving this book and others hating it. Some reviewers are caught up on just focusing on the horrible characters rather than really paying attention to what Philippa Gregory was doing with this book. And if that's how you read the book, then that's perfectly okay. For me, this book is much more than what is on the surface and I appreciated the story Gregory was telling and where it ultimately lead. Next I'll head into some specifics with the characters.
Stephen is a man of class and privilege. He has come back from the first World War mentally damaged and broken. He has come back from a war he never wanted to participate in to begin with. At this time in history, PTSD was known as shellshock, and for Stephen's "stiff upper lip" family, his shellshock is seen as an embarrassment and he should feel ashamed by something he can't control. What Philippa Gregory does brilliantly with this book is to explore this notion of how war can often be romanticized, but with the character of Stephen she rejects that viewpoint by depicting Stephen as a horrible human being. Yes, the war mentally destroyed him, but the war also exacerbated what was most likely already wrong with him before the war. Stephen is controlling, manipulative, and the way he treats Lily is absolutely appalling. To him, all women are whores. He sees the world in a very traditional way for that time in the 1920s. As mentioned, he is upper class, and with that comes a certain set of rules and standards and if someone goes against that, they are seen as odd and uncultured, the lowest of society. Over the course of the novel, through flashbacks, Gregory does reveal what exactly happened during the war. Once all of this is revealed, you finally understand him as a character and why he does what he does, why he says what he says. Stephen is a strange character, for you the reader. There's a part of you that wants to sympathize with him because you know that in a modern setting he would be getting the help and support he truly needs. But on the other hand, the war is also just an excuse. Like I mentioned, the war only exacerbated what was already wrong with him before even going to war. Stephen is one of the most despicable characters you will ever read. His actions and motives are intolerable. He is not this idealized war hero who comes back, gets the girl, and lives a happily ever after life. He is warped and his actions unforgivable. And that's what makes him a fascinating character in my opinion.
Let's talk about Lily next. Lily is the most sympathetic character in this novel, but she too has her moments that you are irritated with her. Gregory never gives specifics, but we are given that Lily is quite a bit younger than Stephen (Gregory downright says Lily is about eighteen and Lily often says Stephen is too old for her, which I took to mean that Stephen was maybe in his early thirties possibly). When we first meet Lily she is a stage singer and her mother basically runs her life, always telling her to focus on her career, never get married. Lily also has a crush on a man who plays the piano named Charlie Smith. Charlie has been through some things during the war and has a secret why he and Lily could never be together. Despite this complication, as the reader you find yourself wanting Charlie and Lily to be together, because by this point Stephen has been introduced to her and you already get the vibe that Stephen is no good for her and something is off. After a tragedy, Stephen essentially forces Lily to marry him and in turn she has to give up part of the things she loves, that including her career and Charlie. As I discussed with Stephen, Lily doesn't get this idealized marriage and she regrets the marriage instantly. Like I mentioned, Lily has her moments that you find her irritating and horrible, but not nearly so like Stephen. Lily is bitter at the war, the changes that the war caused. She's rather selfish and vain. She's dislikes the war veterans who beg for money and employment. And she sees Stephen's shellshock as disgusting and embarrassing. Really, the only reason you are on Lily's side during this whole novel is because the things Stephen does to her are intolerable. She's forced into this marriage. She's forced to have sex with him. He abuses her physically and mentally. So I could easily forgive her naive behavior. This novel goes to some truly climatic places by the end and the whole time you are wanting Lily to escape this hell.
This novel has such a great cast of characters, and for the most part, none of them are very likable. Stephen's mother is a control freak and really holds on to the old traditional ways of what marriage should be like. Stephen's father is probably one of the more sympathetic characters because he has suffered a stroke prior to the novel starting and his own wife and son treat him like garbage, embarrassed by his illness. Charlie Smith was a pure angel. I did find myself wishing he would do more for Lily, but in order to help her, Lily really needed to help herself first. And oh boy, Coventry. Let me spend a moment on Coventry. He seriously was an unexpected favorite character of mine. Coventry was in the war with Stephen and was accomplice to things that happened, and is accomplice to other things that happen during the marriage to Lily. Coventry is 100% loyal to Stephen, playing the role of not only chauffeur, but also a listening ear. Because of the war, Coventry has gone mute, he refuses to speak, suffering his own PTSD alongside Stephen. Coventry is always warm and pleasant to Lily. I was curious if Coventry was in love with Stephen. Or maybe even started falling in love with Lily. When describing Coventry and Stephen, Gregory often uses the words "close as lovers" whenever they are in a scene together, so I don't know if there was a slight relationship there that we were supposed to infer. Coventry was easily one of the more interesting characters by the fact that he never spoke and you got the idea he was keeping some sort of secret, holding back his own pain, but being there to support Stephen.
So a very long review of this book, and hopefully I've not spoiled too much. I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. The beginning can be a bit slow, but every chapter builds and builds until you get to the very shocking climatic ending. You do end this book with questions. For the most part, a lot is answered, but a lot is left unanswered and you are questioning where the story could go next. Philippa Gregory was trying to tell a certain message with this novel, and I think she achieved that. You may not like the characters, you may totally despise them, but the novel is more than that. The book really made me appreciate our modern life and how we view mental health like PTSD and the treatments involved. I always say Philippa Gregory is one of my favorite authors, and she has produced yet another novel that I love.
May 9, 2021
I love anything Philippa Gregory writes, especially her early works, I mean Wideacre, do I need to say more. She seems to take daring risks with her plots and I have learnt to always expect the unexpected. In saying that, I had no idea that this book was set in my home town, of the Portsmouth area, in fact my village is actually mentioned where I currently live, so this book became very relatable to me and was a delight as I could picture all the locations well. I enjoyed reading all about Portsmouth and the surrounding areas in the 20’s. It brought a whole new light to the area I live in. It made reading the book all the more immersible.
I love the way that the characters are not necessarily likable in Gregorys books. They all have some complex deep issues. In this book we meet the male hero Stephen, recently returned from the war and suffering some PTSD. Stephen falls in love with chorus girl and singer Lily, and so the story begins.
Without spoiling anything, I absolutely adored this book. I won’t lie, the first half does drag quite a bit, it took me ages to really get into it but once I did I could not put the book down. It does become quite gritty in places. Lily is a wonderful character and I loved her mindset on life. I kept jumping through theories the whole way through, trying to predict what was going to happen and not once did I get it right. The ending is jaw dropping and it just shows what talent Gregory has of immersifying you into her stories.
Apart from the slow start, this is a wonderful descriptive historical novel. Full of Romance, Drama and thrilling moments be sure to pick this one up.
I love the way that the characters are not necessarily likable in Gregorys books. They all have some complex deep issues. In this book we meet the male hero Stephen, recently returned from the war and suffering some PTSD. Stephen falls in love with chorus girl and singer Lily, and so the story begins.
Without spoiling anything, I absolutely adored this book. I won’t lie, the first half does drag quite a bit, it took me ages to really get into it but once I did I could not put the book down. It does become quite gritty in places. Lily is a wonderful character and I loved her mindset on life. I kept jumping through theories the whole way through, trying to predict what was going to happen and not once did I get it right. The ending is jaw dropping and it just shows what talent Gregory has of immersifying you into her stories.
Apart from the slow start, this is a wonderful descriptive historical novel. Full of Romance, Drama and thrilling moments be sure to pick this one up.
June 11, 2009
Philippa Gregory is a brilliant author who writes historical fiction. I was captivated with her book, The Other Boylen Girl, and am working my way through many of her other books. This book is about post World War I and how challenging it was for soldiers and families in Britain to try to lead a normal life after so much tragedy. Now that I have completed the book, all I can really say is "Wow." The novel became more and more difficult to read as the content became much more difficult to 'digest.' When I finished the last sentence, I found myself completly silenced, 'mute' if you will. It is a powerful book and if you read it, share with me your thoughts. This is the type of book that leads to much discussion. However, please note, it is a graphic book that presents very challenging concepts for the 'modern' woman, though in the end their is resolution.
January 12, 2014
I'll write a review when I get home from work today
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OKAY so. This effing book. This whole review is going to be spoiler after spoiler so I'm gonna tag all of it except for the end when I give the "So essentially, what I think is..." part.
All in all, I did enjoy the book. The ending was a little too quick for me (as I am a lover of epilogues), and while some parts made me squeamish and uncomfortable, I was able to respect the story when I was done. I don't know if I can say I "enjoyed" it. Does anyone ever enjoy reading about or watching a tragedy? This was essentially what the whole story was; every character endured some kind of pain, be it from the war or from each other. But it was a story where I wanted to know what was going to happen next. It was one of those books I hated putting down because I just wanted to know. I do give it 4 stars, though to be fair it may only be 3.5 stars. I'd only recommend it to people who like historic stories; this isn't a very "feel-good" story, so if you're looking for one of those, this isn't it. If you're looking for a period drama, this is it.
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OKAY so. This effing book. This whole review is going to be spoiler after spoiler so I'm gonna tag all of it except for the end when I give the "So essentially, what I think is..." part.
All in all, I did enjoy the book. The ending was a little too quick for me (as I am a lover of epilogues), and while some parts made me squeamish and uncomfortable, I was able to respect the story when I was done. I don't know if I can say I "enjoyed" it. Does anyone ever enjoy reading about or watching a tragedy? This was essentially what the whole story was; every character endured some kind of pain, be it from the war or from each other. But it was a story where I wanted to know what was going to happen next. It was one of those books I hated putting down because I just wanted to know. I do give it 4 stars, though to be fair it may only be 3.5 stars. I'd only recommend it to people who like historic stories; this isn't a very "feel-good" story, so if you're looking for one of those, this isn't it. If you're looking for a period drama, this is it.
August 22, 2010
I really wanted to like this book - I've read most of what she's written. And there were some good things - it was interesting to read about WWI from the UK side (most of my reading has been WWII-oriented). But it was really tough to get through this book.
The heroine is a little one-dimensional; I also couldn't quite get the timeline. Lily seemed to change quickly, but that might have been the pacing of the book - the beginning is drawn-out, but the 2nd half really speeds up. I can't tell how old the baby is - it seems like by the end he'd be almost a year old, but they describe him in the final pages like he's only a few months old. It was tough to be sympathetic to Lily either - she made dumb choices and youth isn't always an excuse.
I didn't buy that the war had changed Stephen; I think he was a psychopath before the war, and that the war just made it worse. I did feel bad that his family was so suffocating, but there's no excuse for infanticide.
Rory was the most sympathetic character, and I liked the way the relationship between him and Lily developed. The class structure shown by Muriel (tiresome) and Coventry kind of hit you over the head. Also, despite Conventry's service to Stephen, you'd think he'd know right from wrong sooner. I wanted to know more about his muteness - he and Charlie were the only characters I cared about.
Charlie was sympathetic, and seemed to show how war could change someone's life for the worse but they could deal with it better than Stephen. The only problem with this character is it's been done before, better, by Hemingway in 'For Whom the Bell Tolls'.
I'm still going to read more books by her, and I love her historical books. But it's obvious why this book was out-of print.
The heroine is a little one-dimensional; I also couldn't quite get the timeline. Lily seemed to change quickly, but that might have been the pacing of the book - the beginning is drawn-out, but the 2nd half really speeds up. I can't tell how old the baby is - it seems like by the end he'd be almost a year old, but they describe him in the final pages like he's only a few months old. It was tough to be sympathetic to Lily either - she made dumb choices and youth isn't always an excuse.
I didn't buy that the war had changed Stephen; I think he was a psychopath before the war, and that the war just made it worse. I did feel bad that his family was so suffocating, but there's no excuse for infanticide.
Rory was the most sympathetic character, and I liked the way the relationship between him and Lily developed. The class structure shown by Muriel (tiresome) and Coventry kind of hit you over the head. Also, despite Conventry's service to Stephen, you'd think he'd know right from wrong sooner. I wanted to know more about his muteness - he and Charlie were the only characters I cared about.
Charlie was sympathetic, and seemed to show how war could change someone's life for the worse but they could deal with it better than Stephen. The only problem with this character is it's been done before, better, by Hemingway in 'For Whom the Bell Tolls'.
I'm still going to read more books by her, and I love her historical books. But it's obvious why this book was out-of print.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2013
This is a historical fiction book set just at the end of World War I in England, during the 20s, flapper time. This is a time frame i know almost nothing about...I watched Chicago, but that's about it...so I'm glad to read this. Unlike Gregory's other books I've read, these characters weren't real people, but the sentiments they expressed mainly were. Here is a whole country full of people who seem to have lost their innocence. They describe sending the men off to war like it's a game, and then a couple years later, they come home, broken, or they don't come home at all. Reminds me of the Vietnam war. The economy has changed, the mindset has changed, people are now "modern." Just the underlying theme and history was the most interesting part to me. But the story is good also. At first, I didn't like any of the characters, but as time went along and Lilly changed, i did grow to like her more. This book is not a dull, descriptive, people living their lives book, it's got elements of a kind of psychological thriller twist to it too, which I did see coming long before it was revealed. You get the bleak depressingness that she writes in her Wideacre series, without it being quite so bleak and hopeless. I think this may be my favorite book of hers I've read so far, even more than the Other Boleyn Girl, although that was good too.
January 23, 2014
It took me some time to become enthralled with this book. The first few chapters rambled on slowly for me, and I wasn't clear where the story was going. About a quarter of the way in, I had a clearer picture of the story line and could not wait to see the ending.
The characters range from sweet and cheerful to absolutely detestable. I had great empathy for Lily, who always tried to do the right thing and who brought joy, innocence, and laughter into the Winters' home. The secret between Stephen and Coventry is revealed earlier than I anticipated, and I was mortified to learn about it. Things that went on during the war have destroyed Stephen, who seemed a bit of a loose cannon prior to the war anyway. I was conflicted between despising him and feeling sorry for him. Rory and Charlie were enjoyable characters, and the spark of goodness in Coventry was evident from the start.
I found myself feeling irritated at the treatment of women during that time and also the ways of society. I enjoy historical fiction, though, and am glad I stuck with this book. The ending will not disappoint.
The characters range from sweet and cheerful to absolutely detestable. I had great empathy for Lily, who always tried to do the right thing and who brought joy, innocence, and laughter into the Winters' home. The secret between Stephen and Coventry is revealed earlier than I anticipated, and I was mortified to learn about it. Things that went on during the war have destroyed Stephen, who seemed a bit of a loose cannon prior to the war anyway. I was conflicted between despising him and feeling sorry for him. Rory and Charlie were enjoyable characters, and the spark of goodness in Coventry was evident from the start.
I found myself feeling irritated at the treatment of women during that time and also the ways of society. I enjoy historical fiction, though, and am glad I stuck with this book. The ending will not disappoint.
March 19, 2009
FOREWORDS
Post-WWI, shell shocked gentleman, working class music-hall dancer/singer.
Love the period. I had thought all the P. Gregorys were Tudor-era.
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IN MEDIAS RES
The more of this I read, the more I like it!
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AFTERWORDS
This book reminds me of the sort I used to read on the subway headed downtown for work many years ago: thick enough for the long rides, engrossing enough to make me miss my stop, and addictive enough to have me smuggling it into the bathroom on breaks to have just a bit more.
Not really chick-lit (although I admit no man I know would be seen carrying it around), not exactly a pot-boiler, and not at all an epic, Fallen Skies is just --- it must be said --- a thumping good read!
August 10, 2021
Enjoyed this but the end was soo frustrating
I love Philippa Gregory’s books, and this was just as nuanced, detailed and dark as most of her stuff- but the pacing and especially the ending really disappointed me. I was waiting for hundreds of pages for her to finally get back together with Charlie and had zero pay off at the end in that respect, that whole plot line felt unfinished. The last fifty or so pages were so rushed compared to the rest of the book that it was like a whole different story. I definitely saw it coming in terms of who took the baby, but again the pay off for that wasn’t there. It seemed like she had a deadline or jsut got bored writing this book by the end, which killed me as I absolutely loved the world and characters she’d created. I’ve never felt this about her other books and I imagine this is probably an early one of hers.
I love Philippa Gregory’s books, and this was just as nuanced, detailed and dark as most of her stuff- but the pacing and especially the ending really disappointed me. I was waiting for hundreds of pages for her to finally get back together with Charlie and had zero pay off at the end in that respect, that whole plot line felt unfinished. The last fifty or so pages were so rushed compared to the rest of the book that it was like a whole different story. I definitely saw it coming in terms of who took the baby, but again the pay off for that wasn’t there. It seemed like she had a deadline or jsut got bored writing this book by the end, which killed me as I absolutely loved the world and characters she’d created. I’ve never felt this about her other books and I imagine this is probably an early one of hers.
December 11, 2012
WWI is the backdrop for this saga, which is a change from Ms. Gregory's more common British royal tales. PG takes you into the depths of human emotions in this whirlwind novel. This one has it all. Love, hate, war, mystery, brutality all wrapped up in a story that is quite compelling. The 5 star rating was coming out, but the ending fell a bit short, for me. PG always creates the most interesting characters. You either love 'em or hate 'em.
The realm of the aristocracy never fails to intrigue, with the rules of decorum overriding any common sense. You won't be disappointed if you enjoy reading any of Philipa's stories. I hate to use the phrase, but it is a real "page turner."
The realm of the aristocracy never fails to intrigue, with the rules of decorum overriding any common sense. You won't be disappointed if you enjoy reading any of Philipa's stories. I hate to use the phrase, but it is a real "page turner."
February 28, 2010
I have a hard time really getting into a book when there isn't anything redeeming about the main characters. I kept hoping for a change to occur, some catharsis to take place to wrap it all up in a nice package, but alas, no such luck. The ending was a bit of a let-down. It seemed incomplete, like just the ending to the incident at the end of the story rather than an end to the story. It left me feeling unsatisfied. Maybe I'm just not sophisticated enough for it.
April 13, 2009
didn't finish, depressing, and I didn't care
April 20, 2023
Where to begin?
I couldn’t stand Stephen. He was a horrible, selfish human being who only thought about himself. Whine, whine, whine. He knows nothing about love and gets off on violence. Very disturbing.
I really liked Coventry. He seemed like a good man.
I liked Lily. I thought she was sweet and innocent and in her grief, she was taken advantage of and was reacting instead of thinking through some pretty big decisions. She was such a positive person and brought a lot of joy into the Winters home. Everyone loved her. I loved how she treated Rory. She and Nurse Olds were the only people who seemed to care about him, and I think it was Lily’s infectious spirit that helped heal him. She showed him love and kindness, two things he didn’t get from his wife and son.
Stephen’s mom was a nightmare.
Charlie and Rory were my favorite characters. I just loved both of them. They were great!
I couldn’t stand Stephen. He was a horrible, selfish human being who only thought about himself. Whine, whine, whine. He knows nothing about love and gets off on violence. Very disturbing.
I really liked Coventry. He seemed like a good man.
I liked Lily. I thought she was sweet and innocent and in her grief, she was taken advantage of and was reacting instead of thinking through some pretty big decisions. She was such a positive person and brought a lot of joy into the Winters home. Everyone loved her. I loved how she treated Rory. She and Nurse Olds were the only people who seemed to care about him, and I think it was Lily’s infectious spirit that helped heal him. She showed him love and kindness, two things he didn’t get from his wife and son.
Stephen’s mom was a nightmare.
Charlie and Rory were my favorite characters. I just loved both of them. They were great!
May 27, 2023
This is a fascinating story of the consequences of war on the human psyche. Both Stephen Winters and Coventry experienced severe mental anguish as a result of fighting at the front during the first world war. Stephen is from an upper clsss family but marries a young music-hall singer whom he believes will help him forget the war. What follows is increasing hopelessness, violent dreams, abuse and violence. Is there any hope for the future? Read the book and discover for yourself.
April 26, 2017
Honestly, fuck this book. This was just an unpleasant read with very little enjoyment. I wasn't expecting a book set in post-WW1 Britain to be a romp, but I was hoping for some of that 'human drama and emotion' that the blurb mentioned. Instead, I got a far too detailed examination of a deeply unpleasant misogynist making life a living hell for a vaguely nice woman. I understand that the war was deeply damaging to an entire generation of young men, but I didn't like Stephen pre-war so wasn't really going to like him post-war either. I don't inherently shy away from books that deal with hard topics but I do like to have at least some form of enjoyment or worthwhile experience come from reading and this just felt like a waste.
Also, I felt like the pacing of this was a bit dodgy. Some bits seemed to drag out for a while, whereas the final climactic part seemed quite rushed to me. Another issue I have is that Stephen's secret and the final climactic plot point seemed pretty obvious to me, so some of the 'mysterious' veiled references seemed a bit clunky (which I don't think would have been so obvious if some of the pacing had been edited). I'm not saying there weren't some bits that were done well, examination of class difference, shellshock, the depiction of theatre life. On the whole it just wasn't an enjoyable read for me personally.
Overall, pretty disappointed in this one.
Also, I felt like the pacing of this was a bit dodgy. Some bits seemed to drag out for a while, whereas the final climactic part seemed quite rushed to me. Another issue I have is that Stephen's secret and the final climactic plot point seemed pretty obvious to me, so some of the 'mysterious' veiled references seemed a bit clunky (which I don't think would have been so obvious if some of the pacing had been edited). I'm not saying there weren't some bits that were done well, examination of class difference, shellshock, the depiction of theatre life. On the whole it just wasn't an enjoyable read for me personally.
Overall, pretty disappointed in this one.
April 24, 2018
I would rate this as more of a 3.5
I was not a fan of this book until I reached half way and then I got into it. My issue was that I did not relate to the characters and I found that it dragged at points that were less interesting. I was also not a fan of how the book ended.
I was not a fan of this book until I reached half way and then I got into it. My issue was that I did not relate to the characters and I found that it dragged at points that were less interesting. I was also not a fan of how the book ended.
March 18, 2022
This has sat on my bookshelf for literally decades. Finally picked it up. Tore through it. Hurray for TBR's!!! Would have liked another chapter at the end to tidy things up a bit.
April 10, 2023
You loathe the villain so intensely it’s hard to read - but so so good!!!!!
November 20, 2024
I was fully immersed in this world and exploration of the post war world and shell shock on the characters - and then it turns into a detective novel in the last few chapters? Yeh nah - I’m not about that vibe shift.
November 19, 2025
I always associated with Philippa Gregory with early modern history/ the Tudor period so it was a nice surprise to come across this book. I am so glad I did because it was great! Gregory is such a talented author and really immerses you in the historical time period. The characters in Fallen Skies are all complex and have fascinating stories. You won’t be disappointed if you read this!
October 5, 2009
This is a superb historical novel with tragic themes. Phillipa Gregory demonstrates the she can craft such a great story that takes place in the past century. (This book was initially released in 1993. Due to Gregory's popularity, it has been reissued.)
The story focuses on the dysfunctional marriage of Lily Valance and Captain Stephen Winters. Stephen was traumatized by his service during World War I. He is clearly suffering from PTSD and other issues. Yet he refuses treatment of any kind and is plagued by nightmares. Lily marries him and she is unaware of his condition until their honeymoon.
Before she met Stephen, Lily was an up and coming singer and chorus girl. Due to personal tragedy, Lily ends up marrying Stephen to survive. As she is from the working class and the Winters family is upper class, conflicts naturally occur. Compounded with Stephen's psychological problems and misogynist attitudes and Lily's inexperience, the marriage is immediately plagued by problems. There are continual themes of marital rape. While Gregory is not graphic in her depictions, it is still distressing material.
Gregory excels at describing Stephen's remembrances of the war. She also gets into the head of all her characters. The reader understands what makes each character tick. Overall, this book is an indictment of the attitudes of the upper class. When Stephen is observing his wife while she changes their son's diaper, the present day reader understand how warped his sensibilities have become.
"Stephen gazed at the two of them in a sort of horror: at his son's innocent babyish maleness, and at Lily's confident handle of him. As if she were some kind of red-handed nurse, as if she were not a lady at all. Stephen was appalled that Lily should lower herself to be so intimate with the child. It was worse than servitude, what she chose to do. It was disgraceful that she should do it and feel no shame at being watched."
As Lily continues to assert herself, Stephen's mental health and behavior declines. It is inevitable that this marriage will end in tragedy. Gregory keeps us guessing as to who will be harmed the most. The last few chapters kept the tension building beautifully. I highly recommend this book to historical fiction and Phillipa Gregory fans even though it is very dark material.
The story focuses on the dysfunctional marriage of Lily Valance and Captain Stephen Winters. Stephen was traumatized by his service during World War I. He is clearly suffering from PTSD and other issues. Yet he refuses treatment of any kind and is plagued by nightmares. Lily marries him and she is unaware of his condition until their honeymoon.
Before she met Stephen, Lily was an up and coming singer and chorus girl. Due to personal tragedy, Lily ends up marrying Stephen to survive. As she is from the working class and the Winters family is upper class, conflicts naturally occur. Compounded with Stephen's psychological problems and misogynist attitudes and Lily's inexperience, the marriage is immediately plagued by problems. There are continual themes of marital rape. While Gregory is not graphic in her depictions, it is still distressing material.
Gregory excels at describing Stephen's remembrances of the war. She also gets into the head of all her characters. The reader understands what makes each character tick. Overall, this book is an indictment of the attitudes of the upper class. When Stephen is observing his wife while she changes their son's diaper, the present day reader understand how warped his sensibilities have become.
"Stephen gazed at the two of them in a sort of horror: at his son's innocent babyish maleness, and at Lily's confident handle of him. As if she were some kind of red-handed nurse, as if she were not a lady at all. Stephen was appalled that Lily should lower herself to be so intimate with the child. It was worse than servitude, what she chose to do. It was disgraceful that she should do it and feel no shame at being watched."
As Lily continues to assert herself, Stephen's mental health and behavior declines. It is inevitable that this marriage will end in tragedy. Gregory keeps us guessing as to who will be harmed the most. The last few chapters kept the tension building beautifully. I highly recommend this book to historical fiction and Phillipa Gregory fans even though it is very dark material.
July 30, 2010
You really have to force yourself to get through the first few chapters of this book. It is a very subtle read with very few climaxes until the ending. It is basically about a young girl under her mothers care and guidance who at first is a strong influence to the main character but trails away near the end. It almost as if when she ends, the driver of her husband picks up as her role model. The ending was very surprising with a lot of fanatic and surprising emotions coming from the character, you begin to feel for her situation, and pity her predicaments. I would have liked to see more of the man she was in love with, and what happened thereafter with them, rather than it ended the way it did.
August 30, 2016
I thought this book was terrific. Captain Winters comes home from World War I, accompanied by one of his wartime subordinates who has been rendered mute by the experience. Both men are severely traumatized by both the trench warfare and by some secret atrocity they committed together. Captain Winters marries a young and innocent singer, expecting her to somehow rectify his war-induced mental illness. When she, of course, cannot, he becomes increasingly enraged and unhinged until the whole situation dissolves into tragedy. Tense storytelling, great character and plot development.
May 22, 2009
Enjoyed this book. It shows the underbelly of the post WWI era. I found that I grew very angry at how women were treated at that time. They had very few rights and men could divorce his wife for any reason. The wife on the other hand rarely had no grounds, and if divorce was pursued they would lose everything including their children. I was kind of cranky with my husband while I was reading this book.
September 4, 2021
I have always enjoyed everything else from this author, but this book...wow...beyond depressing. Not a single admirable or sympathetic character amongst the lot of them except perhaps for the infant child that appears in the last part of the story. With no redeeming aspects to pretty much the entire book, I'm sorry to give this one a thumbs down. It earned my two stars only for its length - I was on a beach vacation and wanted a nice, long book that I wouldn't blow through in a day.
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