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My Dear Bessie: A Love Story in Letters: A BBC Radio 4 Adaptation
Benedict Cumberbatch and Louise Brealey read a love story in letters, played out against the backdrop of the Second World War.
A small blue box opened in 2008 revealed a wartime world of love, longing and frustration.
On September 5th 1943, Chris Barker, a signalman stationed near Tobruk in North Africa, decided to write to a former work colleague, Bessie Moore, a Morse code interpreter at the Foreign Office back in London. The unexpected warmth of Bessie's reply changed their lives forever.
Chris and Bessie's love letters first appeared in Simon Garfield's book To The Letter. They have toured literary festivals as part of Letters Live before being published in a book, My Dear Bessie.
Duration: 45 mins
A small blue box opened in 2008 revealed a wartime world of love, longing and frustration.
On September 5th 1943, Chris Barker, a signalman stationed near Tobruk in North Africa, decided to write to a former work colleague, Bessie Moore, a Morse code interpreter at the Foreign Office back in London. The unexpected warmth of Bessie's reply changed their lives forever.
Chris and Bessie's love letters first appeared in Simon Garfield's book To The Letter. They have toured literary festivals as part of Letters Live before being published in a book, My Dear Bessie.
Duration: 45 mins
1 pages, Audio CD
First published February 5, 2015
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April 23, 2015
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05r78dwDescription: A love story in letters played out against the backdrop of the Second World War between Chris Barker, a solider in North Africa, and Bessie Moore, a Morse code interpreter at the Foreign Office in London.
A small blue box opened in 2008 revealed a wartime world of love, longing and frustration. On September 5th 1943, Chris Barker, a Signalman stationed near Tobruk decided to write to a former work colleague, Bessie Moore, back in London. The unexpected warmth of Bessie's reply changed their lives forever.
Chris and Bessie's love letters first appeared in Simon Garfield's book To The Letter, they have toured literary festivals as part of Letters Live before getting their own book, My Dear Bessie, published this year on Valentine's Day.
Hells bells, I don't usually like romance yet this was so touching because these letters are real.
March 5, 2019
This is literally a real-life love story, set in WW2 and told in letters. As a writer who loves writing in letter form with her stories, this looked like the perfect read!
Chris Barker in the month of September in 1943, is working in North Africa as a signalman. Since he has been stationed away for the duration of the war (and a little bit beyond that), he turns to writing as a way of not only passing the time, but staying in contact with close family and friends. One of those people he writes to is Bessie, a person that he used to work with. The communication grows with multiple letters sent back and forth and love starts to blossom. It does say that most of the letters from Bessie haven't survived, but I was floored by just how passionately in love Chris was with her. There was some really interesting details, such as location changes and news updates. There are also photos to add to the history. I'm thrilled that these letters are available to read. It does go to show that communication is so important, since it can change lives. The pacing is a little slow and Chris does mention about... boobs a little bit. Other than that, it's a wonderful read!
Chris Barker in the month of September in 1943, is working in North Africa as a signalman. Since he has been stationed away for the duration of the war (and a little bit beyond that), he turns to writing as a way of not only passing the time, but staying in contact with close family and friends. One of those people he writes to is Bessie, a person that he used to work with. The communication grows with multiple letters sent back and forth and love starts to blossom. It does say that most of the letters from Bessie haven't survived, but I was floored by just how passionately in love Chris was with her. There was some really interesting details, such as location changes and news updates. There are also photos to add to the history. I'm thrilled that these letters are available to read. It does go to show that communication is so important, since it can change lives. The pacing is a little slow and Chris does mention about... boobs a little bit. Other than that, it's a wonderful read!
April 24, 2015
From BBC Radio 4 - Drama:
A love story in letters played out against the backdrop of the Second World War between Chris Barker, a solider in North Africa, and Bessie Moore, a Morse code interpreter at the Foreign Office in London.
Compiled by Simon Garfield and adapted for radio by Sara Davies
Produced by Gemma Jenkins
A small blue box opened in 2008 revealed a wartime world of love, longing and frustration.
On September 5th 1943, Chris Barker, a Signalman stationed near Tobruk decided to write to a former work colleague, Bessie Moore, back in London. The unexpected warmth of Bessie's reply changed their lives forever.
Chris and Bessie's love letters first appeared in Simon Garfield's book To The Letter, they have toured literary festivals as part of Letters Live before getting their own book, My Dear Bessie, published this year on Valentine's Day.
A love story in letters played out against the backdrop of the Second World War between Chris Barker, a solider in North Africa, and Bessie Moore, a Morse code interpreter at the Foreign Office in London.
Compiled by Simon Garfield and adapted for radio by Sara Davies
Produced by Gemma Jenkins
A small blue box opened in 2008 revealed a wartime world of love, longing and frustration.
On September 5th 1943, Chris Barker, a Signalman stationed near Tobruk decided to write to a former work colleague, Bessie Moore, back in London. The unexpected warmth of Bessie's reply changed their lives forever.
Chris and Bessie's love letters first appeared in Simon Garfield's book To The Letter, they have toured literary festivals as part of Letters Live before getting their own book, My Dear Bessie, published this year on Valentine's Day.
November 29, 2020
What a cruel thing to review and rate love letters that were not even meant to be read by anyone other than Chris and Bessie. And yet, here I am, rating it 4 stars and writing a review. So let me just start off by saying that I am not trying to rate the letters themselves, but rather the decision to make this into a book and the selection of these letters.
I really love the idea of bundling a letter correspondence between two lovers during WW2. I cannot imagine how hard it must be to live during wartime, let alone to be apart from your lover for so long. So I liked this journey of reading about two real people who wrote real words. The reason that I didn’t rate it 5 stars, however, is that sometimes it was a bit hard to get through. Few of Bessie’s letters have been saved (such a shame!!), so about 95% of the letters are Chris’s. You have to guess from his letters what Bessie may have replied, which is doable, but it slows down the pace a bit. That isn't the editor's fault, but perhaps a shorter collection would’ve made it feel a bit less repetitive at times. The final part made up for the slightly duller middle part though, and it was lovely to find out a little more on Chris and Bessie’s life after the letters stopped.
Re the contents, as I said, it’s impossible to rate personal letters. You cannot judge someone’s expression of their feelings. This being said, I love how, in the end, love is universal. It doesn’t matter if you lived in 1943 or 2020, UK or elsewhere, I think in the end all couples can relate to their relationship to some extend – I know I can. We share the same fears, the same hopes, the same longings. It was heart-warming to read their expressions of these things. And I think Chris and Bessie are really lovely as a couple. Between all the romantic lines, they also have their ups and downs, like any couple, but they always seek to express what they feel so that it doesn't become a (bigger) problem. I think that's a wise lesson for all of us.
My favourite bits where the parts that I could relate to – things I recognize in my relationship – and Chris’s lovely replies to Bessie's fears and his endless confirmations that his love for her would never fade.
It made me want to pick up a pen and paper and write love letters to my boyfriend, so mission accomplished, I’d say.
I really love the idea of bundling a letter correspondence between two lovers during WW2. I cannot imagine how hard it must be to live during wartime, let alone to be apart from your lover for so long. So I liked this journey of reading about two real people who wrote real words. The reason that I didn’t rate it 5 stars, however, is that sometimes it was a bit hard to get through. Few of Bessie’s letters have been saved (such a shame!!), so about 95% of the letters are Chris’s. You have to guess from his letters what Bessie may have replied, which is doable, but it slows down the pace a bit. That isn't the editor's fault, but perhaps a shorter collection would’ve made it feel a bit less repetitive at times. The final part made up for the slightly duller middle part though, and it was lovely to find out a little more on Chris and Bessie’s life after the letters stopped.
Re the contents, as I said, it’s impossible to rate personal letters. You cannot judge someone’s expression of their feelings. This being said, I love how, in the end, love is universal. It doesn’t matter if you lived in 1943 or 2020, UK or elsewhere, I think in the end all couples can relate to their relationship to some extend – I know I can. We share the same fears, the same hopes, the same longings. It was heart-warming to read their expressions of these things. And I think Chris and Bessie are really lovely as a couple. Between all the romantic lines, they also have their ups and downs, like any couple, but they always seek to express what they feel so that it doesn't become a (bigger) problem. I think that's a wise lesson for all of us.
My favourite bits where the parts that I could relate to – things I recognize in my relationship – and Chris’s lovely replies to Bessie's fears and his endless confirmations that his love for her would never fade.
It made me want to pick up a pen and paper and write love letters to my boyfriend, so mission accomplished, I’d say.
February 6, 2015
Exceeds expectations. Received my preorder earlier than expected. If an audiobook version is ever released, it'll simply have to be Louise Brealey and Benedict Cumberbatch. They did such an excellent job at the Hay Festival that I just can't imagine anyone else in those roles. I'd pay any asking price if it were them and that pre-order button would be hit the moment it appears.
April 9, 2016
5/5 brilliant stars!
Wow! What a book! To say I was completely bowled over with My Dear Bessie is the complete understatement of the year. I believe it is entirely safe to assume that this is one of my all-time favourites! I fell in love the moment the book arrived on my doorstep and I eagerly ripped into the packaging to discover the hidden depths of true love.
The book contains a large number of letters written by a young man otherwise known as Chris Barker who had joined the army in the year 1942. The recipient of the letters was a young woman called Bessie Moore, who stayed and worked back home in England. The first few letters were only passed by being mere acquaintances to one another. Little to them did they know that they would soon become lovers, torn apart by war and distance with only letters to keep in contact, and express their true feelings; worries, fears and concerns to one another over the coming years.
The letters came into their future son’s possession many years later, when Chris asked if he wanted them or to throw them away. Thank the lord he accepted! These letters are nothing more than the true works of love at work. Sounds very mushy to be honest, and yes it is! But the fact that the love shines through in every letter only makes it more real to feel and believe in. It’s hard not to fall in this couple!!
The book is mainly made up of letters by Chris that were kept by Bessie at home. Unfortunately due to Chris constantly being on the move and always having to watch what he took with him, he had to burn a lot of the letters Bessie sent him! Which is a real shame because I would have loved to have read more by Bessie but understandable as to why we couldn’t. I would say the book is mainly filled with 90% Chris and the remainder 10% is by Bessie. But it works out fine that way. Chris had such a way with words, I often found myself blushing an awful lot! It was a good thing I was alone when reading this otherwise, people would have been staring for sure. What was said between them both made me laugh out loud on several occasions; blush like a bright red tomato whilst swooning over the hot whispered words Chris lovingly said to Bessie and bittersweet smiles at the achiness of them both needing and wanting each other.
Chris- “So I may write as I feel-would that I could. These words would burn the paper and scorch you. I do think of you hourly. You set all my senses humming and make me sweat. I want to feel you, I want to go with you to a quiet place and tell you with my body what I can only half say in words.”
When they finally meet up together when Chris manages to get some leave, the letters are stopped and resumed of course when he has to return back to the army. All of the passion building up to them meeting properly was almost like a kick in the stomach for not being able to see how they reacted and interacted with one another. But it’s a stark reminder that it was/is real life and not a fairy tale story.
The moment when Chris finally proposed to Bessie and her reply came through had me wooing and shouting loudly “Yes!” over and over again to empty air for quite some time. To say I had a big smile on my face for the rest of the day is a true fact.
The times when Chris mentioned for Bessie not to announce their relationship to friends and family also made me shy away from the book. I felt incredibly naughty, almost as if peering into someone’s forbidden diary. But then after reading their son’s after words at the end of the book made me wholeheartedly agree with his words.
“I worry that I have exposed their love when privacy was important to them but I am also pleased that their writing has won their so many new friends. I believe their life and love belong to the ages.”
Amen!
I have since discovered reading the book, which parts of their letters were read out live by the actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Louise Brealy. I love these two people. If anyone was to read their letters and bring their voices to life, it would always be these two. It was a true delight to listen to their letters come alive, and I really wish that they would read out loud the complete book and make it into an audio book. I’m not keen on audiobooks as I find it hard to listen and pay true attention, however I know I would a lot of money to listen to these guys repeat Chris and Bessie’s whispered words of longing to one another.
I pretty much found myself in near complete denial when I reached the end of Chris’s letters to Bessie. I couldn’t believe it was over. Through accounts of their son and granddaughter, we find out what happened to them both after the war and Chris finally managed to come home. I’m so pleased that they finally managed to find their paradises with one another, their home and their family after being denied access for so many years. It appears they were true soulmates and if anyone were to ask me the definition of what are soulmates then I would simply point them in the direction of Chris and Bessie.
A book I will be forever be grateful I purchased and a book that will proudly sit my bookshelf. An all-time favourite and a true love that will forever stay with me.
Wow! What a book! To say I was completely bowled over with My Dear Bessie is the complete understatement of the year. I believe it is entirely safe to assume that this is one of my all-time favourites! I fell in love the moment the book arrived on my doorstep and I eagerly ripped into the packaging to discover the hidden depths of true love.
The book contains a large number of letters written by a young man otherwise known as Chris Barker who had joined the army in the year 1942. The recipient of the letters was a young woman called Bessie Moore, who stayed and worked back home in England. The first few letters were only passed by being mere acquaintances to one another. Little to them did they know that they would soon become lovers, torn apart by war and distance with only letters to keep in contact, and express their true feelings; worries, fears and concerns to one another over the coming years.
The letters came into their future son’s possession many years later, when Chris asked if he wanted them or to throw them away. Thank the lord he accepted! These letters are nothing more than the true works of love at work. Sounds very mushy to be honest, and yes it is! But the fact that the love shines through in every letter only makes it more real to feel and believe in. It’s hard not to fall in this couple!!
The book is mainly made up of letters by Chris that were kept by Bessie at home. Unfortunately due to Chris constantly being on the move and always having to watch what he took with him, he had to burn a lot of the letters Bessie sent him! Which is a real shame because I would have loved to have read more by Bessie but understandable as to why we couldn’t. I would say the book is mainly filled with 90% Chris and the remainder 10% is by Bessie. But it works out fine that way. Chris had such a way with words, I often found myself blushing an awful lot! It was a good thing I was alone when reading this otherwise, people would have been staring for sure. What was said between them both made me laugh out loud on several occasions; blush like a bright red tomato whilst swooning over the hot whispered words Chris lovingly said to Bessie and bittersweet smiles at the achiness of them both needing and wanting each other.
Chris- “So I may write as I feel-would that I could. These words would burn the paper and scorch you. I do think of you hourly. You set all my senses humming and make me sweat. I want to feel you, I want to go with you to a quiet place and tell you with my body what I can only half say in words.”
When they finally meet up together when Chris manages to get some leave, the letters are stopped and resumed of course when he has to return back to the army. All of the passion building up to them meeting properly was almost like a kick in the stomach for not being able to see how they reacted and interacted with one another. But it’s a stark reminder that it was/is real life and not a fairy tale story.
The moment when Chris finally proposed to Bessie and her reply came through had me wooing and shouting loudly “Yes!” over and over again to empty air for quite some time. To say I had a big smile on my face for the rest of the day is a true fact.
The times when Chris mentioned for Bessie not to announce their relationship to friends and family also made me shy away from the book. I felt incredibly naughty, almost as if peering into someone’s forbidden diary. But then after reading their son’s after words at the end of the book made me wholeheartedly agree with his words.
“I worry that I have exposed their love when privacy was important to them but I am also pleased that their writing has won their so many new friends. I believe their life and love belong to the ages.”
Amen!
I have since discovered reading the book, which parts of their letters were read out live by the actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Louise Brealy. I love these two people. If anyone was to read their letters and bring their voices to life, it would always be these two. It was a true delight to listen to their letters come alive, and I really wish that they would read out loud the complete book and make it into an audio book. I’m not keen on audiobooks as I find it hard to listen and pay true attention, however I know I would a lot of money to listen to these guys repeat Chris and Bessie’s whispered words of longing to one another.
I pretty much found myself in near complete denial when I reached the end of Chris’s letters to Bessie. I couldn’t believe it was over. Through accounts of their son and granddaughter, we find out what happened to them both after the war and Chris finally managed to come home. I’m so pleased that they finally managed to find their paradises with one another, their home and their family after being denied access for so many years. It appears they were true soulmates and if anyone were to ask me the definition of what are soulmates then I would simply point them in the direction of Chris and Bessie.
A book I will be forever be grateful I purchased and a book that will proudly sit my bookshelf. An all-time favourite and a true love that will forever stay with me.
October 8, 2015
What a wonderful book, I couldn't put it down! A series of letters sent between a soldier in Africa and Italy in WW2 and an old friend in London. They fall in love from a great distance, which gives the book a tremendous narrative drive. What if he is killed before they meet? When they meet, will they even fancy each other? is there any chance they will be able to live happily ever after?
If you've read and enjoyed Nella Last's War, this is one for you.
If you've read and enjoyed Nella Last's War, this is one for you.
August 15, 2020
‘Can you feel, as you read these words, that I am thinking of you now; aglow, alive, alert at the thought that you are in the same world, and by some strange chance loving me.’
❤️
❤️
September 15, 2020
Emotional and sweet story, that took me back in time. Just lovely 🥰 very well narrated. Cumberbatch has such a nice voice.
Want to read
April 24, 201523 APR 2015 - recommended by Dear Friend, Laura. Many thanks!
May 14, 2024
Short but the love letters were sweet.
April 2, 2015
Thanks to social media and instant messaging, the art of letter writing appears to have been lost over the decades. As a teenager, I would send letters to friends who lived up the road, just for the sheer pleasure of receiving post. Now my teen and pre-teen simply text, message or Skype when they want to contact their friends - no more waiting in anticipation for a reply or writing long descriptive paragraphs of events or emotions.
My Dear Bessie is a love story, an insight into wartime romance. The raw emotion in the letters between Chris and Bessie is divine. The devotion and concern for one another. The feelings they couldn't bear to bottle up or hide away. People struggled to cope with their loved ones being away for long periods of time, missing them both physically and emotionally, yet - as this book shows - love could survive and even blossom through the war.
The descriptions of the wartime events, both in London and abroad, are truly fascinating to read. Within their letters, Chris and Bessie discuss moral and political issues, providing historical background. I found it fascinating to read how the British service men passed their time whilst abroad - how they still enjoyed local culture, for example, and sent photos and packages home.
The letters are fairly one sided, as unfortunately Chris had to destroy many of Bessie's letters due to lack of storage space. However, he does refer to her letters within his own, which helps to keep the flow going.
If you love old-fashioned love stories and wartime romance, My Dear Bessie is a wonderful read.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
My Dear Bessie is a love story, an insight into wartime romance. The raw emotion in the letters between Chris and Bessie is divine. The devotion and concern for one another. The feelings they couldn't bear to bottle up or hide away. People struggled to cope with their loved ones being away for long periods of time, missing them both physically and emotionally, yet - as this book shows - love could survive and even blossom through the war.
The descriptions of the wartime events, both in London and abroad, are truly fascinating to read. Within their letters, Chris and Bessie discuss moral and political issues, providing historical background. I found it fascinating to read how the British service men passed their time whilst abroad - how they still enjoyed local culture, for example, and sent photos and packages home.
The letters are fairly one sided, as unfortunately Chris had to destroy many of Bessie's letters due to lack of storage space. However, he does refer to her letters within his own, which helps to keep the flow going.
If you love old-fashioned love stories and wartime romance, My Dear Bessie is a wonderful read.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 14, 2015
I loved reading My Dear Bessie for the romance it contained, for the way it humanised the War experience and for the glimpse it offers the reader into the past. When Chris and Bessie first start corresponding they are merely friends and yet it was Bessie’s first crucial reply that would change both of their lives forever.
‘I was quite OK before I got your first letter. I was rational, objective. But now that you have my ear – I must give you my heart as well! No doubt it is wrong, certainly it is indiscreet, to blurt out such things when the future laughs that only presents conditions make me like this. But I am like this.’
Due to practical reasons explained in the books introduction the majority of the letters in My Dear Bessie are written by Chris and yet the reader is able to gain such an insight in to both Chris and Bessie’s personalities. Both are strong Labour supporters; Chris leans heavily towards Socialism even during the Greece occupation and Bessie helps Labour with the 1945 election. They are pragmatic yet romantic, youthful yet mature, unconventional yet traditional...
Full review can be found on at www.forgettheclassicsireadromance.blo...
‘I was quite OK before I got your first letter. I was rational, objective. But now that you have my ear – I must give you my heart as well! No doubt it is wrong, certainly it is indiscreet, to blurt out such things when the future laughs that only presents conditions make me like this. But I am like this.’
Due to practical reasons explained in the books introduction the majority of the letters in My Dear Bessie are written by Chris and yet the reader is able to gain such an insight in to both Chris and Bessie’s personalities. Both are strong Labour supporters; Chris leans heavily towards Socialism even during the Greece occupation and Bessie helps Labour with the 1945 election. They are pragmatic yet romantic, youthful yet mature, unconventional yet traditional...
Full review can be found on at www.forgettheclassicsireadromance.blo...
September 18, 2015
I've been reading this forever because it's my before bed when I'm reading a hardback book.
It's very sweet and warm with some great gems. The family afterwords are lovely too. It could definitely have been edited down more, though, and there's far less Bessie than billed. Probably a better experience on audio.
It's very sweet and warm with some great gems. The family afterwords are lovely too. It could definitely have been edited down more, though, and there's far less Bessie than billed. Probably a better experience on audio.
April 12, 2015
I didn't think I could fall in love with two people so easily, but I did. Christopher Barker proves to be an incredible writer, and Bessie an a accomplished woman. They're a perfect pair. This collection of letters will stay with me for the rest of my life.
January 17, 2016
I would give this 3 and a half but don't know how to do the half. The thread through the letters is fascinating with some comments about the War absolutely fascinating and giving a new perspective with details I had never known.
May 4, 2018
Lovely adaptation of a collection of World War II letters.
April 9, 2022
This is the real-life correspondence between two ordinary people, Chris Barker and Bessie Moore. During WWII, Chris was sent to Africa, and later to Greece and Italy, where he witnessed some of the horrors of war. Shortly after leaving for Africa, Chris started writing to his friend Bessie, and it soon became apparent to both of them that they were starting to have strong, passionate feelings for one another. Here, the letters have been edited together, and introduced, by Simon Garfield for us to read.
I feel as though I have read someone’s most private and intimate thoughts - which I actually have! There are a lot more letters from Chris, and not very many from Bessie, as Chris just didn’t have the space to keep all of the letters that he received. Because of this, we get a better understanding of the kind of person that Chris was than we do about Bessie. Even though there aren’t a lot of Bessie’s letters, she is still very present throughout. We get a sense of their longing to spend time with each other in person, their frustrations at being kept apart, their hopes and dreams for the future, and above all, their mutual love and passion. Chris definitely doesn’t hold back and he doesn’t really leave much to the imagination either! One minute he can be writing about what he has done and seen that day, within the limitations of army censorship, and the next he’s telling Bessie exactly what he would like to do with her breasts. He was definitely a breast man! Chris’s sense of humour comes across a lot in his letters too.
There wasn’t really anything that I didn’t like about this. It’s beautiful and powerful, and the afterwords by their relatives let us know a bit more about Chris and Bessie as people too. It also felt authentic as some of the letters were even unfinished. I feel as though I know them both now. 5 out of 5 stars!
I recommend this to anyone who loves nonfiction correspondence, epistolary stories, love letters, and anyone who is interested in WWII.
I feel as though I have read someone’s most private and intimate thoughts - which I actually have! There are a lot more letters from Chris, and not very many from Bessie, as Chris just didn’t have the space to keep all of the letters that he received. Because of this, we get a better understanding of the kind of person that Chris was than we do about Bessie. Even though there aren’t a lot of Bessie’s letters, she is still very present throughout. We get a sense of their longing to spend time with each other in person, their frustrations at being kept apart, their hopes and dreams for the future, and above all, their mutual love and passion. Chris definitely doesn’t hold back and he doesn’t really leave much to the imagination either! One minute he can be writing about what he has done and seen that day, within the limitations of army censorship, and the next he’s telling Bessie exactly what he would like to do with her breasts. He was definitely a breast man! Chris’s sense of humour comes across a lot in his letters too.
There wasn’t really anything that I didn’t like about this. It’s beautiful and powerful, and the afterwords by their relatives let us know a bit more about Chris and Bessie as people too. It also felt authentic as some of the letters were even unfinished. I feel as though I know them both now. 5 out of 5 stars!
I recommend this to anyone who loves nonfiction correspondence, epistolary stories, love letters, and anyone who is interested in WWII.
May 23, 2019
2019 bk 170. I've enjoyed the books from the Mass Observation Project edited by Simon Garfield in the past. This collection of WWII letters are held in the Mass Observation Project, but not a part of it. The prolific writings of these two individuals during three years of WWII are amazing. The couple both worked at the post office pre-war and new each other, but it was through the letters that they grew to love each other. Most of Bess's letters no longer exist. I hope the ones from Bess were at least as informative and reactive in a positive letter. From the post script the couple seemed to have had a happy life, their son reporting that they would debate the political and provided a united front when it came to the children. I found Chris Barker to be very open about the fact that he wanted his wife to be a stay at home wife, that she should have one or two activities outside the home, and as interested in what they would put in the home. Bess was the one who arranged the purchase of their house and had to scrounge in the 1945 - 1946 period to find furnishings - although he sent rugs, cleaning pails, and other items to add to the household goods as he could find them. It was obvious that he worshiped her body, and loved her mind and desire to read and learn in the same ways he did (I'm not sure how he felt when she didn't like what he did). An interesting look at the life of a 'common' soldier and his girl (although the secrecy he desired in the relationship totally befuddled me.)
February 17, 2019
I was attracted to this audiobook because the primary reader was Benedict Cumberbatch. While it held my attention, I think I would not have found it at all compelling if I had read the print version. Simply put, I did not find the romance between these two people convincing, since they really did not know each other very well at all. This is ironic, since they were actual people and these are their actual letters! And, they actually married and stayed married for life. But this exchange taking place during the war was so fanciful. They wanted to be in love, so they talked themselves into thinking they were in love. The fact that the number of letters from him to her greatly exceeded the letters from her to him (because some had to be destroyed) did not help. The listener gets a very large dose of the man's brain dump. Why did he have so much time to write so many letters? Wasn't there a war on? Without the draw of BC's acting ability and mellifluous voice, I could not have given this book more than two stars. Please note that it has great value to the descendants of this couple; I am commenting on its value to a broader public. (less)
December 27, 2021
I listened to the audiobook of this one and that is probably why it got 4 stars. It is a beautiful WWII true love story. It begins when soldier Chris Barker stationed in northern Africa writes to some of his friends...and one is Bessie, with whom he worked briefly before the war. Her warm response encourages the letter writing relationship and it develops from there. The story is told mainly through Chris' letters, as many of Bessie's have not survived. Such love and so personal. I need to read a bit about the war in Greece since Chris was there and I know so little about WWII in that location. I understand why my own mother said that she destroyed my Dad's letters during his time overseas during WWII. She said they were just too personal. I suspect another story of great love. Fortunately I do have one surviving letter on the occasion of his returning home. This story made my parents' love story very real.
April 12, 2025
Really hard to review a collection of letters, but I've grown so fond of these two and their love story, quite amusing to hear from their son and granddaughter's accounts that they were not an outwardly romantic couple, it really goes to show how intimate this love of theirs was. It also works as an interesting documentation of what life in war was, albeit Chris was in a specific mostly non-conflictuous situation.
The biggest downside to it I'd say is the shortage of Bessie's letters, but we learn why they're not there along Chris', it would've been a delight to read her yearnings and musings.
But I do recommend it if you like reading letters, which range from deeply romantic to very technical accounts of day-to-day life in the army. It's a joy to watch as Chris slowly eases into accepting his feelings for Bessie and building their castles in the air.
The biggest downside to it I'd say is the shortage of Bessie's letters, but we learn why they're not there along Chris', it would've been a delight to read her yearnings and musings.
But I do recommend it if you like reading letters, which range from deeply romantic to very technical accounts of day-to-day life in the army. It's a joy to watch as Chris slowly eases into accepting his feelings for Bessie and building their castles in the air.
March 22, 2017
United by letters, separated by WWII, they wrote and wrote and wrote-- sometimes more than one letter in a day. And we live that time along with them, day by day. Sadly, Christopher had to destroy his cache of letters from Bessie as the War took him along, so we don't hear her voice as much as we would like to. But oh his voice-- so smart, so droll, so warm.
Having met this dear couple in Garfield's "To the Letter," I already knew that they would be safely together at last, but to the last page of "My Dear Bessie"I still was on the edge of my chair from the day-to-day suspense of their hopes for a shared life. Sweet!
That said-- as I was pondering which fortunate friend would be the first to be loaned my copy of this book, it crossed my mind that some might find the very frequent topic of Bessie's breasts to be more-than-enough. Oh, but if they could only stay til the final pages and read about Chris and Bessie as described by the younger generations of Barkers-- surely they would see that it was all romantic and still is. A real marriage of true minds.
Having met this dear couple in Garfield's "To the Letter," I already knew that they would be safely together at last, but to the last page of "My Dear Bessie"I still was on the edge of my chair from the day-to-day suspense of their hopes for a shared life. Sweet!
That said-- as I was pondering which fortunate friend would be the first to be loaned my copy of this book, it crossed my mind that some might find the very frequent topic of Bessie's breasts to be more-than-enough. Oh, but if they could only stay til the final pages and read about Chris and Bessie as described by the younger generations of Barkers-- surely they would see that it was all romantic and still is. A real marriage of true minds.
March 3, 2023
A wonderful and timeless exploration of what it means to love and be together. This book follows Chris and Bessie as they reunite and fall in love writing letters. Especially impressing to me was, no matter how desperate or desolate the situtation was, they continuously put in the work to assure each other of their love and keep their optimism and hopefulness to plan a concrete future togehter. Many aspects they touch upon (like sharing their inner, maybe not so pretty, thoughts, making time for each other and finding the good sides of a partner) are still acutely relevant today in any form of relationship although many years have passed and circumstances have changed since these testaments of love.
June 5, 2018
I originally came across this after watching a video of Cumberbatch reading one of the letters. I'm a fan of letter anthologies, but this one was disappointing in my expectations. Not much went on in terms of describing the war and events that surrounded Chris during his deployment, aside from his capture in Greece. The repetitive nature of the letters also made this book seem unusually long. However, I wonder if Cumberbatch's excellent readings also may have tainted my impressions. Also, it would have been nice to see more letters from Bessie.
April 19, 2021
Super short listen as you hear real life letters between Barker and Moore as read by Cumberbatch and Brealey, as their relationship develops into empassioned declarations of love between one another. Starting off as people who used to work together, they fall in love. As they’re really the letters written between the pair, not all have survived so they’re very heavy on Chris’ side of letters. And the wonderful thing is, the pair stayed together until their 90s and sadly died. Both narrators do a fab job in bringing these letters to life.
May 31, 2021
Very briefly - the audible/BBC version is not an audiobook, it's a selection of readings made for Radio 4. Very enjoyable but if you were after an abridged version this is not it.
Stunningly intimate letters, almost awkwardly so, that I feel slightly guilty for prying into. It's easy to imagine the WWII generation as a bit... dry, reserved, prudish even, but these letters absolutely blow that notion out of the water. Cumberbatch and Brealy make for lovely narrators, as you probably already from the Letters Live videos (worth hunting down on YouTube if you've not seen them.)
Stunningly intimate letters, almost awkwardly so, that I feel slightly guilty for prying into. It's easy to imagine the WWII generation as a bit... dry, reserved, prudish even, but these letters absolutely blow that notion out of the water. Cumberbatch and Brealy make for lovely narrators, as you probably already from the Letters Live videos (worth hunting down on YouTube if you've not seen them.)
June 6, 2018
An engaging and endearing story of the coming together of a man and woman via correspondence in World War 2, but there is no denying that the effect is marred by the fact that most of Bessie's letters have not survived. The concluding reflections by a son and a granddaughter really help to tie up the story, though. We do see a real-life instance of true love, and that is heartwarming.
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January 7, 2023I would have never picked a letter reading or even a love story. Plus this was adultish and too personal intimate talk for my taste, which I dont enjoy. However, the performances of Benedict Cumberbatch and Louise Brealey along with Jane Slavin was mindblowing. Was it the words or the sound of it which captured so intense a feelings I cannot decide...but the overall effect is beautiful
May 12, 2021
I know real people wrote these letters,but i found it creepy than romantic!
I mean how some one tells a girl whom he never met: Thinking about you make me hot at nights!!!!!!
.نامه ها اذیت کننده و حتی کمی چندش آور بودن تا رمانتیک
I mean how some one tells a girl whom he never met: Thinking about you make me hot at nights!!!!!!
.نامه ها اذیت کننده و حتی کمی چندش آور بودن تا رمانتیک
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