The Secret Life of Alfred Nightingale

by Rebecca Stonehill

A compelling page turner of a buried past resurfacing, set against a backdrop of the 1960's youth culture and war torn Crete. 1967. Handsome but troubled, Jim is almost 18 and he lives and breathes girls, trad jazz, Eel Pie Island and his best friend, Charles. One night, he hears rumours of a community of young people living in caves in Matala, Crete. Determined to escape his odious, bully of a father and repressed mother, Jim hitchhikes through Europe down to Matala. At first, it's the paradise he dreamt it would be. But as things start to go wrong and his very notion of self unravels, the last thing Jim expects is for this journey of hundreds of miles to set in motion a passage of healing which will lead him back to the person he hates most in the his father. Taking in the counter-culture of the 1960's, the clash of relationships between the WW2 generation and their children, the baby boomers, this is a novel about secrets from the past finally surfacing, the healing of trauma and the power of forgiveness.

Genres: Greece, Fiction

298 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 29, 2017

About the author

Rebecca Stonehill is an author living in Norwich with her husband and three children. She spends her time working on her prose and poetry and runs Magic Pencil, an initiative to give children greater access to creative writing and poetry. Rebecca has had numerous short stories published over the years, for example in Vintage Script, What the Dickens magazine, Ariadne's Thread and Prole Books but The Poet's Wife (Bookouture) is her first full-length novel, set in Granada during the Spanish Civil war and Franco's dictatorship. Her second novel, The Girl and the Sunbird, was published by Bookouture in June 2016. Her third novel, The Secret Life of Alfred Nightingale, is set in Crete in WW2 and the 1960's. Rebecca's fourth book came out in 2022 - The Sky Within - A Memoir of Sleep. Her first published non-fiction, this won the Backlash Press prize for non-fiction and charts her journey over many years with chronic insomnia.

Reviews

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Atmospheric, insightful, and profoundly moving!

The Secret Life of Alfred Nightingale is predominantly set on the island of Crete during both the 1960s and WWII and is told from two perspectives; Jim, a young man who travels to Matala to live for the moment and be free from his stifling home life and strained relationship with his father; and Alfred, a young man embarking on a journey of survival in a time of utter devastation and destruction.

The prose is expressive, vivid, and eloquent. The characters are multi-faceted, genuine, and sympathetic. And the plot is a sweeping saga filled with life, loss, familial dynamics, secrets, determination, self-discovery, loneliness, friendship, war, survival, forgiveness, and love.

The Secret Life of Alfred Nightingale is truly a wonderfully written, poignant novel by Stonehill that does an exceptional job of blending historical facts, remarkable characterization, and heartfelt fiction into an incredibly moving story that reminds us that life is very precious and often all too short.

Thank you to Rebecca Stonehill for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

All my reviews can be found on my blog at https://whatsbetterthanbooks.com

[Renita D'Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a HUGE fan of Rebecca Stonehill's writing, having loved her previous two beautiful novels. I thought those novels were perfection, but with this amazing book, the author raises the bar even higher. This is a masterpiece, with vividly drawn, engaging characters who tug at your heart strings and will remain with you long after the book is finished. This book covers so much, the war and its aftermath, its devastating effect on subsequent generations and yet it is masterfully done, the story engaging and beautiful, the characters so real they take up residence in your head. I loved everything about this book, Alfred's poignant story, life in the caves, the wonderful ending, the scenes so vivid that I could picture them all. An epic, heart warming story that should be read by everyone. Highly recommended.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Structured in three parts, the first section of the book, set in 1967, is told from the point of view of seventeen-year old Jim. He is troubled by his frequent clashes with his taciturn, seemingly remote and disciplinarian father who disapproves of Jim’s trips to Eel Pie Island to listen to bands, dance and drink the night away. When Jim learns about a group of young people living in ancient caves in a place called Matala in southern Crete, he defies his father and, with his best friend, Charles, hitch-hikes across Europe to the island.

Initially, Jim is spellbound by Matala and the free and easy lifestyle of the community of young travellers he and Charles find living there, even if living conditions are basic to say the least. He becomes captivated by one girl in particular, the beautiful and free-spirited Chenoa, but in his naivety fails to grasp the ‘rules of the game’ are different here. After an act of what Jim regards as betrayal, he becomes disillusioned with what he had previously regarded as an utopia. Returning home he learns the cost of his time away is not just his father’s wrath but something much more troubling and significant.

The author conjures up a believable picture of life in the 1960s, whether that’s Jim’s home life (Vesta beef curry, foil-wrapped teacakes), the atmosphere of Eel Pie Island or the freewheeling, hippy lifestyle in Matala.

In my interview with Rebecca (link via my blog or Rebecca's website), she revealed one of the things she finds interesting is ‘what we share with one another and what we decide to keep to ourselves’ and described her fascination with words left unspoken. She also observed that secrets and mysteries can be the force that propels readers through a story.

In the case of The Secret Life of Alfred Nightingale a significant part of the mystery for the reader is to do with when or how they are going to meet Alfred and discover the nature of his secret life. Without giving too much away, I’ll just say that the author keeps the reader waiting for quite a while to find out (although some readers may have an inkling earlier on). Ironically, for a long time, Jim is not even aware that secrets exist for him to discover. It’s only conversations with other cave dwellers in Crete that make him start to wonder why he knows so little about his father’s past. What Jim eventually finds out (in, for me, the most powerful parts of the book) utterly changes how he feels about his father. Perhaps they are not so very different after all? Although maybe, unlike his father, Jim has a chance to put some things right.

The Secret Life of Alfred Nightingale is both an insightful coming-of-age story and a powerful exploration of the horror, heartbreak and lasting impact of war. It’s also about the kindness of strangers and the possibility of second chances.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege of reading an advance copy of this book, and I’m happy to say I loved it! I’ve read all of Rebecca Stonehill’s novels, as they take me into worlds I never knew before, into the hearts and minds of her characters so that I root for them, feel with them, want the best for them, cry for them, laugh with them. This book especially reminds the reader not judge people by their surface personalities; that even the most unpleasant of characters sometimes is worthy of understanding and patience and love.
Most of all, I love the way Rebecca brings settings to life that to me are foreign, in this case, Crete, a country I have never visited. Now I want to go – that should say it all! Not only that; I came of age in the 60’s, and so the atmosphere of happy-go-lucky young travellers taking off with hardly a penny in their pockets and somehow surviving in paradise – well, I did that, and it was great to it vicariously in the first part of this novel – even though, with the wisdom of hindsight, my older, more mature self felt like giving young Jim a good shake.

But most of all, it’s the second part of the novel that shook me to the core, as well-written and poignant World War II stories inevitably do. These stories make me aware of my pampered life and force me to find my better self, as they bring to life the dangers and sacrifices faced by people and communities who had no choice but to live through the horrors of war. So, again, this novel sank into me and made me feel, think, love with its characters. So all that is left is for me to say thank you, Rebecca, and to you, reader : Read This Book!

[Caroline Blakemore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall the story is very enjoyable and the style of writing is what I call 'easy reading'. After a busy day I found it a nice easy book to read, simply written with sufficient descriptions to conjure up a good picture in my mind of the characters and locations. There is nothing pretentious or over flowery about the writing, which is a positive for me. The second half of the book picked up the pace for me and I found Alfred's story very interesting and moving. I think it's a very good book to remind us all to speak to our parents, grandparents and older relatives where possible to find out more about how life was like for them in their younger years, and what it can teach us in the modern world.
Just like Jimmy in the story; by speaking to his father and learning about Alfred's 'secret life', he was able to put things into perspective and to also have better empathy and understanding for his parents' attitudes and actions.

[Tripfiction]

Novel set at the MATALA CAVES, CRETE in the Summer of Love



In the 1960s a community of backpacking hippies settled in Matala, a remote corner of Crete in the Mediterranean, where tourists were largely unknown. Tourists even came to goggle at the hippie tourists! They lived in man-made Neolithic caves and slept on Roman tombs. The most famous visitor to Matala was singer Joni Mitchell, who immortalised the ideal hippie scene in her 1971 song “Carey”.. The author’s mother apparently spent some time living in the caves.

The hippies were eventually driven out by the Church and the Military Junta.

The Secret Life of Alfred Nightingale is largely set at Matala and on Crete, although the story starts in Twickenham. Two young men, Jimmy and Charles frequent Eel Pie Island where there is a vibrant youth culture and a freedom that perhaps is unavailable elsewhere in late 1960s Britain. They hear tell of the wonderful life that is open to anyone who wants to join the community in Matala and the lure of hanging out and smoking weed is just too strong to resist. This is, of course, the tail end of the Swinging ’60s and 1967 is The Summer of Love.

Jimmy is driven to escape his home life in large part because he has such a difficult relationship with his undermining Father. He persuades his friend Charles to leave and hitch hike down to Crete. Most of the book deals with their experiences in the hippie community, and Jimmy’s longing for Chenoa, a young woman whom he meets and for whom he instantly falls within hours of arriving. He is there for merely a week or so and we follow his trials and tribulations and irascible nature as he engages with life on the island. He meets German twins who probe what his father did during WW2 and somehow their discussion prompts him to consider his father’s life afresh. Compounded by his ultimate lack of success with Chenoa (not for want of trying, however), he decides to return home

Parts 2 and 3 of the book neatly bring an overview and further understanding to the central story. And it is at this point that the relevance of the title becomes clear.

The writer has a real talent for story-telling and can evoke the feel of the island of Crete at different periods of the 20th Century. She also portrays Jimmy as an angry young man and explores the psychological phenomenon of projection, when one generation unconsciously ‘carries’ the emotional trauma and resultant anger from a previous generation.

I did however, struggle a little with the structure of the book. Jimmy has only ever been as far as Calais with his parents and now he is embarking with Charles on a hitch hiking trip through Europe to Crete. Within a couple of pages the two are already boarding a ferry in Piraeus, heading for Crete. For me there was so much that could have been explored, this being their first real travel adventure; it felt that the author rushed to pop her characters into community life in Matala, with a similar hurried feeling on the return journey. For me this felt dislocating.

There is a lot of taking off/putting on of ‘boxer shorts’, which didn’t actually come into vogue until the mid-80s. It should have been the dreaded “Y”-fronts, probably made of nylon. And remember, this is 1967, the boys are frequently described as lathering themselves in suntan lotion, when suntan lotion wasn’t actually a ubiquitous commodity; nor something in all likelihood that boys of their age would have thought to bring amidst their chaotic packing. (It was more likely to be the use of olive oil and a bit of “baking” in the sun, enhanced by silver foil trays that would direct even more rays to certain parts of the body!).

No matter, overall an interesting read, in part a coming-of-age novel that conjures up the feel of the 1960s and introduces readers to the hippie community of Crete all those years ago.

[Louise Beech · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Rebecca Stonehill's gorgeous first book, so was eager to read this - and she has done it again. Again she has created a beautiful, sharply observed, and vivid story of love and forgiveness that spans generations. The secret life in question is a powerful one - but really, all the lives here are 'secret' in that they discover who they are and what they want throughout the book. In Stonehill's novels, place is as important as character. So Crete, and the Caves, pulsate with life. I cannot recommend this one enough. Just stunning.

[Deborah O'Regan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book I have read from Rebecca Stonehill. I loved this book what a great story.
2 great stories with the same setting on Crete one late 60's and one during WWII . I love the way Rebecca deals with the past. We all know the WWII Stories set in France Germany etc but Rebecca deals with the more obscure places that you forget also went through the war.

[Tilda · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much to like about Rebecca Stonehill's third novel. The era is drawn with details which take the reader right into the terraced house in suburban London in the 60's. Things like the tinned food meals and the constant radio created a real sense of place and time. The tension between the old war generation and the empowered baby-boomers is explored in the tricky relationship between Jimmy and his parents. We see Jimmy's struggles not only with his parents, but with finding his place in a changing world. The wonderful escape of Eel Pie Island offers Jimmy, and best friend Charles, a refuge from the problems of home, and a doorway into another world of music, dancing, drugs and girls, and ultimately, Matala, a free-living, cave-dwelling commune in Crete. Once there, Jimmy's emotions can no longer be blamed on his parents, and he must confront his own shortcomings and start to recognise and deal with his emotions. It makes good reading, enjoyable and interesting. But then. The second half of the novel is a whole other thing. I absolutely loved the secret life that tumbles out of Alfred's mouth. It is beautifully written, touching, and utterly gripping. The final resolution – no spoilers – is wonderful and I put the finished book down feeling replete. A good story well told.

[Debbie Rix · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful lyrical story of a young man's awakening. Set over two time periods - the 1960s and the 2nd World War - it explores first love, friendship and the hidden secrets and traumas that exist in many families. Rebecca paints a sharp, sparkling picture of the island of Crete that brings this island's history, remarkable people and stunning scenery to life. This is a novel that is written with love and tells a tale of loyalty and self-discovery. I loved it.

[Satu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kun on lomalla Kreetalla, on kiinnostavaa lukea jotain, mikä liittyy Kreetaan. Tässä kirjassa ollaan Kreetalla toisen maailmansodan aikaan sekä 60-luvulla hippikommuunissa.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebecca Stonehill has done it again, I have been lucky enough to read The Secret Life of Alfred Nightingale before publication, and it is superb. I have never cried whilst reading a book, the way I did at this. Beautiful, emotional, sad, funny, a wonderful insight into relationships. Spanning generations it tells the story of a man still coping with the effects of the war, and a young mans coming of age, and of renewing of a friendship that never died. All I can say is READ IT. I know this is a book that will stay with me, and I will definitely re-read this in the years to come, and I am sure it will still affect me emotionally, as it is a “story” of real life. Thank you Rebecca.

[Ita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book! So much happens while reading. I started out liking the maincharacter which turned into irritation for his selfishness and finally sympathy for his journey. Wow what a great read! The characters are very real. Not just good guy bad guy, but also everything in between. It made me laugh and cry and think about old friendships. Highly recommended!!!

[Virginia Clay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has one of the best opening lines ever. It made me laugh out loud which is always a good hook for me. The energy right from the beginning was age appropriately buoyant and developed accordingly as the characters grew older in parts two and three.

There are some beautiful truths at the heart of this novel about forgiveness and the inheritance of emotional states as well as physical characteristics. It really made me ponder how, though the world continues to make poor choices, there is so much more available to us now in terms of our personal response to our present situation and how to thrive where we are planted. It made me grateful for that reality and I felt inspired to cherish my nearest and dearest.

The narrative voice is so different from her previous novels, but I expect that is because the characters are radically different and Stonehill likes to write in the first person. However, perhaps it is arguable that there is always an element of rebellion with her characters which makes for some good action.

I think the writer is a great ambassador for writing across gender – her main characters are male but yet they must deal with some complex emotional issues and she handles that well. I think my only dissatisfaction is that this is a hero’s journey (as opposed to a heroine’s) and consequently the women are not given as much attention. I was intrigued initially by her main female character who was strangely aloof and I thought this would lead to something, but in hindsight her aloofness was probably as seen through the eyes of a randy teenage boy! But it is not like Stonehill has set out to write about women and so I wouldn't describe this as a failing. Besides, we know she can write women very well from her previous books.

All in all, I think this would make a great holiday read – especially if you should find yourself in Crete!

[Adele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a profoundly moving novel that evoked many emotions in me. A story cleverly told in two different time frames from two generations of one family going through a pivotal time in their own lives which would leave a lasting impression forever.

The author, Rebecca Stonehill, swept me away to a time in 1967, to a place of free spirit, young love and a time of self-discovery. This particular part of the story was quite fascinating. An adventure for the youngsters who quite bravely took this journey. The caves of Matala with their steeped history intrigued me and with the backdrop of the beach and sea I can understand the draw especially with the Mediterranean temperatures. For young Jim though, who was hellbent on escaping the stifling relationships at home, it wasn’t the idyllic retreat he expected. As the days drew on he felt like something was missing, he was hurting inside with unresolved angst from home and the young love he craved wasn’t like he’d dreamed.

I was then transported back to a beautiful coastal area of Crete to 1940 when British forces were posted to defend Suda Bay and the British ships. This beautiful area was soon to become tarnished and the locals and military personnel were fearing for their lives due to the onset of WWII. Rebecca Stonehill took me to this terrifying time when the man you eat, sleep, work with becomes your closest friend in the world. He’s your brother in arms that you will trust with your life and share your innermost thoughts with. We see a different side to a character that our first impressions of are so far from the truth.

The Secret Life of Alfred Nightingale is a historical timeslip novel about friendship, about self-discovery, about grief, about young love and much, much more. Beautifully poignant, emotive and informative.

[Flora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two good stories set in Eel pie island and Crete. Perfect for a holiday read to Crete. Found the ending a bit unrealistic but enjoyed the book overall.

[helen panou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

I enjoyed reading this book although at times I felt the early years of Jim did seem to be a little tedious. I kept reading and then began to enjoy the rest of the book especially when the story line turned to his father.
I enjoyed reading The Poet's Wife and found I could not put this book down so now looking forward to reading another of Rebecca's books