Our Fine Romance

by Michael Harbott

'Our Fine Romance' is the true story of two young people growing up separately during the London Blitz of 1940 and their subsequent evacuation into the English countryside. Following their unusual meeting, courtship and marriage they emigrated to "Apartheid" South Africa. Three years and two children later, for financial reasons, they made the risky decision to move to Northern Rhodesia, close to the war-ravaged Republic of Congo. During their life there in the 1960s the "Wind of Change" was sweeping through the Colonial African States. Many British territories became independent during this time and, after another child and 10 years in Africa, they decided to start a new life on the West Coast of Canada. With the addition of a fourth child and successful careers in their adopted country, Maureen and Michael are both now retired and living in Vancouver, British Columbia, but a recent turn of events has led to their biggest challenge yet; an Alzheimer's journey!

Genres: Fiction

369 pages, Paperback

First published February 5, 2014

About the author

After growing up in England during World War II and then spending ten years in Southern Africa, my wife Maureen and I are both now in our 80’s and have lived near Vancouver, British Columbia for over fifty years. Three of our children live close by and the eldest daughter lives in Miami, Florida. We have ten grandchildren! After retiring from the airline industry in 1996, we continued with our love of travel to visit family in the UK and USA, also friends in South Africa, New Zealand and elsewhere. All this came to an abrupt end in 2006 when Maureen started to show signs of dementia and was subsequently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. This has been a terrible blow to the family and has robbed us of a beautiful, loving wife, mother and grandmother. As Maureen now has no memory of her past life or who we are anymore, I am extremely proud that we have been able to capture the story of her remarkable life in our book, 'Our Fine Romance.'
Our story sounds very much like the 'Notebook'.

Currently, I am working on a new book to be entitled 'Lost Memories.'

Reviews

[Wanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read. Feel like I know this couple now. With Corvid, a good love story is a welcome relief. Thanks.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting biography about a couples life, their accomplishments, happiness and sorrows. Nice to see married couples making through all their lives with just one partner and working together to make a marriage complete! I only gave it a 4* because a couple parts were a tad too long drown out! But interesting. Life is good with a soul-mate, lifelong friend

[Mike Boyar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written. Brings you through all of your emotions. Anyone one who liked “The Notebook” would enjoy this read.
This book would be a nice movie to view.

I wish it was longer.