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The Lost Soldiers
From the New York Times bestselling author comes a remarkable novel of three women whose lives have been torn apart by war. For fans of The Nightingale, Wives of War and Lilac Girls, In Love and War reveals the strength, love and courage found even in the darkest of times, and the ultimate triumph of hope.
In the summer of 1919, British Ruby is mourning her beloved husband Bertie, missing since 1916. His grief-stricken parents ask one last task of her: travel to the Belgian battlefields to find Bertie’s grave, and with it the peace that will come with knowing his final resting place.
Alice, an American, knows in her heart that her brother Sam is alive – but after he signed up under a false name, no news has been heard from him since he arrived in Belgium. Leaving her life and her fiancé behind in Washington, Alice sets sail for Europe, promising herself that she will not rest until she finds her brother.
Martha has risked everything to travel to Belgium. A German, she knows she will be met with neither sympathy nor understanding. But her son lies somewhere in Belgian soil, and her husband’s dying wish was for his grandfather’s bravery medal to be passed down to his son. It is a promise Martha will do anything to keep.
When the lives of these three women collide, they begin to question whether that which unites them could be greater than their differences. As an unlikely friendship blossoms, their story reveals their untiring determination to find out what happened to the men they love, no matter how painful the truth.
In the summer of 1919, British Ruby is mourning her beloved husband Bertie, missing since 1916. His grief-stricken parents ask one last task of her: travel to the Belgian battlefields to find Bertie’s grave, and with it the peace that will come with knowing his final resting place.
Alice, an American, knows in her heart that her brother Sam is alive – but after he signed up under a false name, no news has been heard from him since he arrived in Belgium. Leaving her life and her fiancé behind in Washington, Alice sets sail for Europe, promising herself that she will not rest until she finds her brother.
Martha has risked everything to travel to Belgium. A German, she knows she will be met with neither sympathy nor understanding. But her son lies somewhere in Belgian soil, and her husband’s dying wish was for his grandfather’s bravery medal to be passed down to his son. It is a promise Martha will do anything to keep.
When the lives of these three women collide, they begin to question whether that which unites them could be greater than their differences. As an unlikely friendship blossoms, their story reveals their untiring determination to find out what happened to the men they love, no matter how painful the truth.
351 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 25, 2018
1364 people are currently reading
1769 people want to read
About the author
Liz Trenow
16 books368 followersLiz Trenow's family have been silk weavers for nearly three hundred years, and the company is one of only three still operating in the UK today, weaving for top-end fashion houses and royal commissions.
It is this remarkable silk heritage that has inspired many of Liz's four novels, including the most recent The Silk Weaver (UK pub Jan 2017) It will be published in the US as The Hidden Thread in May 2017.
It is set in London in the 1760s in the very house in which the family company began, just down the road from where the pre-eminent silk designer Anna Maria Garthwaite lived at the same time. It is the unknown early life of Anna Maria that has inspired the plot, set against the historical backdrop of racial tension and industrial unrest.
With beautiful illustrations of Anna Maria designs throughout, this will be a book to treasure.
It is this remarkable silk heritage that has inspired many of Liz's four novels, including the most recent The Silk Weaver (UK pub Jan 2017) It will be published in the US as The Hidden Thread in May 2017.
It is set in London in the 1760s in the very house in which the family company began, just down the road from where the pre-eminent silk designer Anna Maria Garthwaite lived at the same time. It is the unknown early life of Anna Maria that has inspired the plot, set against the historical backdrop of racial tension and industrial unrest.
With beautiful illustrations of Anna Maria designs throughout, this will be a book to treasure.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
June 14, 2018
Absolutely beautiful. A wonderful story about love, loss, heart break and hope amid war. All the characters and the setting come alive in this stunning story. I lived this book, experienced it and came away changed in a profound way. Brilliant. A story that transports you and makes you think. A book that will stay with me for a very long time.
November 12, 2017
This book isn't out until next year when it will be 100 years since the end of WW1. It looks at the controversy that existed following the war when people wanted to go to see where their loved ones had died, and even search for that last missing link in the hope they had somehow survived. The so called 'battle field tourism' which grew up at the time was seen to be bad taste but essential for those who wanted to feel closer to their soldier relatives. It explores the views of an English girl, an American women and someone from Germany.... Very heart- wrenching and it's got that personal factor too as it's dedicated to a member of the author's family who was in the war and who has never been found. Personal and very poignant
October 19, 2020
Having been a fan of this author for some time now, I was looking forward to another captivating read - this time following three women from different backgrounds as they cross paths in post war France.
I enjoyed the character of Ruby the most, and felt hers was the most interesting of the three. I wish her story could have been expanded further. The story was intriguing but not as much as the authors previous books. I’m glad I read this though; historical fiction fans will adore the premise of this book. Let’s hope the author continues to write wartime stories for a long time.
I enjoyed the character of Ruby the most, and felt hers was the most interesting of the three. I wish her story could have been expanded further. The story was intriguing but not as much as the authors previous books. I’m glad I read this though; historical fiction fans will adore the premise of this book. Let’s hope the author continues to write wartime stories for a long time.
August 10, 2019
In Love And War by Liz Trenow is a powerful novel showing the futility of war. It was reminiscent of the film Oh What A Lovely War in that I was reminded of the utter waste of young lives on both sides.
The novel is set six months after the end of the First World War during a Thomas Cook pilgrimage to the battlefields of Belgium. Everywhere there is desolation as communities try to rebuild their lives.
At the centre is a core group… an English woman looking for her husband, an American lady looking for her brother and a German mother and son looking for her older son. They are united in grief and the devastation that loss causes. They cling on to the hope that their loved ones will be found… whilst there are no graves there is always hope as many soldiers were still wandering, lost in their minds as shell shock took over.
The suffering of war knows no boundaries. It matters little which side you fought on when your heart is breaking. Loss binds the spirit of humanity together.
There were some powerful scenes set in the war cemeteries. Particularly horrific was the job of digging up remains to give a burial with dignity.
There will always be survivor’s guilt. “Feeling guilty for being alive in a place where people had suffered such misery.” Life has to go on or the sacrifices of yesterday will have been in vain.
Much bitterness existed towards the German nation following the end of WWI. Germany was defeated and suffering under the terms of the Treaty Of Versailles but still the people were regarded with suspicion and hate. People forgot that those left behind had lost loved ones too in the cannon fodder that was WWI. No one wins in wars. Mothers lost sons on both sides. Families were torn apart. Lives devastated by the war to end all wars but it didn’t.
Liz Trenow has produced a marvellous tale that really highlights the devastation for families on both sides. There is a powerful quote that really says it all:
“In your hands you held our hopes, our dreams and our future.”
May we never forget those who gave their yesterday so we could live today.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
The novel is set six months after the end of the First World War during a Thomas Cook pilgrimage to the battlefields of Belgium. Everywhere there is desolation as communities try to rebuild their lives.
At the centre is a core group… an English woman looking for her husband, an American lady looking for her brother and a German mother and son looking for her older son. They are united in grief and the devastation that loss causes. They cling on to the hope that their loved ones will be found… whilst there are no graves there is always hope as many soldiers were still wandering, lost in their minds as shell shock took over.
The suffering of war knows no boundaries. It matters little which side you fought on when your heart is breaking. Loss binds the spirit of humanity together.
There were some powerful scenes set in the war cemeteries. Particularly horrific was the job of digging up remains to give a burial with dignity.
There will always be survivor’s guilt. “Feeling guilty for being alive in a place where people had suffered such misery.” Life has to go on or the sacrifices of yesterday will have been in vain.
Much bitterness existed towards the German nation following the end of WWI. Germany was defeated and suffering under the terms of the Treaty Of Versailles but still the people were regarded with suspicion and hate. People forgot that those left behind had lost loved ones too in the cannon fodder that was WWI. No one wins in wars. Mothers lost sons on both sides. Families were torn apart. Lives devastated by the war to end all wars but it didn’t.
Liz Trenow has produced a marvellous tale that really highlights the devastation for families on both sides. There is a powerful quote that really says it all:
“In your hands you held our hopes, our dreams and our future.”
May we never forget those who gave their yesterday so we could live today.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
October 7, 2018
O cenário? Primeira guerra mundial. Os intervenientes? Três mulheres diferentes. Alice, Ruby e Martha. Uma americana, uma inglesa é uma alemã. O que as une? A procura por um ente querido, perdido num campo de batalha. O desfecho? Uma viagem autoconhecimento que as mudará para sempre.
Uma leitura que nos prende ao livro, que nos transporta a um cenário e destruição e recuperação, de amor, ódio, perseverança e acima de tudo de luta pela vida!
Uma leitura que nos prende ao livro, que nos transporta a um cenário e destruição e recuperação, de amor, ódio, perseverança e acima de tudo de luta pela vida!
January 17, 2018
Three women from very different countries and backgrounds find they are not so very different after all.
In Love and War is a lovely, lovely book. Having read it, I find myself very moved by the dedication at the front which didn’t have a great deal of meaning to begin with. I feel Liz Trenow’s story is a fitting tribute to Lt. Geoffrey Foveaux Trenow and all men of all nationalities who lost their lives.
There’s no rampaging, heart-thumping plot here, but In Love and War is still a hugely compelling reading with a wonderful insight into the lives of those who lost loved ones during World War 1. I found that the gentle plot crept up on me and provided an emotional read that took me by surprise so that I felt very moved and not a little tearful afterwards.
Liz Trenow has a real eye for detail so that the settings are described in a way that makes them come to life. Having visited the WW1 battlefields and cemeteries around Ypres I found myself transported back there so vividly, but with a more substantial realism. I loved the way real places and historical events were so skilfully woven into a gorgeous narrative and the smatterings of German and French in the direct speech added to the authenticity.
The characters of Ruby, Alice and Martha are distinct and convincing, but even better is the way Liz Trenow helps the reader understand that there are no winners or losers in conflict, that none of us is perfect and that a little kindness goes a very long way in helping understanding and reconciliation. Freddie’s description in particular of the bond between fighting men is outstanding.
I think In Love and War is a book to take your time over. It has depth that rewards reflection and thought on the part of the reader. What impressed me most is that Liz Trenow teaches us that it is not physical memorials, or the places where our loved ones are buried that honour them, but rather the memories we cherish that make them live on. I really recommend In Love and War as a moving, evocative, historical read.
https://lindasbookbag.com/2018/01/17/...
In Love and War is a lovely, lovely book. Having read it, I find myself very moved by the dedication at the front which didn’t have a great deal of meaning to begin with. I feel Liz Trenow’s story is a fitting tribute to Lt. Geoffrey Foveaux Trenow and all men of all nationalities who lost their lives.
There’s no rampaging, heart-thumping plot here, but In Love and War is still a hugely compelling reading with a wonderful insight into the lives of those who lost loved ones during World War 1. I found that the gentle plot crept up on me and provided an emotional read that took me by surprise so that I felt very moved and not a little tearful afterwards.
Liz Trenow has a real eye for detail so that the settings are described in a way that makes them come to life. Having visited the WW1 battlefields and cemeteries around Ypres I found myself transported back there so vividly, but with a more substantial realism. I loved the way real places and historical events were so skilfully woven into a gorgeous narrative and the smatterings of German and French in the direct speech added to the authenticity.
The characters of Ruby, Alice and Martha are distinct and convincing, but even better is the way Liz Trenow helps the reader understand that there are no winners or losers in conflict, that none of us is perfect and that a little kindness goes a very long way in helping understanding and reconciliation. Freddie’s description in particular of the bond between fighting men is outstanding.
I think In Love and War is a book to take your time over. It has depth that rewards reflection and thought on the part of the reader. What impressed me most is that Liz Trenow teaches us that it is not physical memorials, or the places where our loved ones are buried that honour them, but rather the memories we cherish that make them live on. I really recommend In Love and War as a moving, evocative, historical read.
https://lindasbookbag.com/2018/01/17/...
February 18, 2019
Just finished it tonight. I love your books and am so glad they are finally becoming available here in the US. Once again you pulled me into a story that I didn't want to end. I never knew of the tours and I understand the need of the families to have some sort of closure. I know without a doubt, I would have been there had I lost a loved one. I would have needed to see where they had been and feel just a little of what they went through. Thank you for sharing this part of history in an amazing story.
August 16, 2018
You are always guaranteed a great read from Liz Trenow- she easily tranports you into another world and time in history. The settings are vividly drawn with wonderful characters. We follow three women and their personal experieces with the recent war.
March 16, 2018
Emotional, thought provoking read
January 25, 2018
In Love and War is the beautifully written new novel from historical fiction author Liz Trenow. This a genre which I would say is my favourite and I can't get enough of it. This story is a detailed observation of how families and individuals attempt to pick up the pieces left behind by the ravages of war in this case the First World War. It is a stunning observation of three women's attempts to overcome their grief, to find answers to the innumerable questions running through their minds. In a bid to find peace and resolution a journey is undertaken by all three not just in their homeland, no they want answers and to achieve they travel back to the scene of where their loved ones fought but in doing so they paid the ultimate price. Each women is from a vastly different background and different circumstances have brought them to Belgium. As we travel with them in their attempt to seek closure the reader as do the characters experience a myriad of emotions as the full horrors of what their men and loved ones endured becomes clear. This is no easy path to uncover the truth or the burial sites and the author does not shy away from the brutal realities for all involved at the time. If she had done so the book would have lacked depth and substance and not been the remarkable, emotive story it turned out to be.
In Love and War is entirely fictional but was inspired by real people, places and events. Tubby Clayton, the army Chaplin /priest who helps Ruby was a real person and it was lovely to see the light shone upon a person who may have ultimately been eroded from history despite the valuable role they played. The themes of the book are very much ones of bereavement and how to cope but also reconciliation, forgiveness and acceptance play a huge part. This book is not full of drama as there had been enough dramatics and horror with the unspeakable events of the war with so many lives lost. Instead this is a subtle exploration of trying to find understanding in order for peace to enter into one's heart. The pace of the story is slow and languid. It doesn't need twists and turns on every page to keep the reader hooked. Sometimes the quality of the words speak for themselves rather than actions. There is no necessity for this as the characters and the trip they are on through such astute, careful writing does the work instead of surprises thrown in just for the sake of it. Yes towards the end there are a few shocks, some pleasant, some not but they didn't interrupt the flow of the overall story. They were placed at essential points and helped the reader clarify things or assumptions they may have had were confirmed or denied.
Initially, I wondered was having three women as the main characters just that bit too much too focus on but I was quickly proven wrong. As there is many sides to a story, so there is many sides to a war and all three provided valid viewpoints and allowed a well rounded opinion of things to come through. It never felt like the author herself was coming down on one side or the author. She stood back and took in all aspects and presented a very well balanced viewpoint. It was different to see a German woman featured-Martha and her son Otto. Normally, I read stories focusing on either of the wars and it is all about the English side so it was refreshing and an eye opener for me. It makes the reader realise the opposing side, despite the terror they inflicted had families waiting at home for them too and at the end of the day they suffered just as much as everyone else did. Martha is fulfilling the final promise of her husband who passed away from the Spanish flu. She wishes to reunite medals with her son Heinrich. This is a bitter sweet journey filled with pain and heartache as they are not reuniting with their loved one instead searching for the place of his burial. One of hundreds of thousands of men who lost their lives. Being German and travelling to Belgium would certainly have not been recommended following the conclusion of war. Hatred, anger, suspicion and revenge abound but a mother and wife's love is strong and she wishes to see the request through until she finds that resting place.
Ruby Barton is travelling from England, leaving on a boat for the first time in her life. Belgium is her destination and she wishes the reasons for her journey were not there. That she would be journeying from England with a happier goal in mind. She is on a tour organised by Thomas Cook of the Belgian battlefields in Flanders, where families of those who fought can see where everything happened and try and find the grave of their relation amongst the hundreds of thousands. In this case it is Ruby's husband, Bertie. She doesn't want to go on the trip. She is grieving, she wants peace, to live a quiet ordered life honouring his memory and never to allow heartache to reach her door again. She wants to remain shut off from any further mentions of love. The reader can see there is something else also eating away at her and until she can satisfy this no resolution can be found. She feels duty bound to visit the grave sites as instructed by her parents in law.
Ruby was very much like a fish out of water and I felt she was brave going on her own not knowing what she would encounter. A country torn apart by war with villages decimated and people struggling to live amongst ruins and the lack of food and facilities. How macabre it must have been for the Belgians to have foreigners as such still encroaching on their land and country even after the war had concluded. On the other hand these tours must have brought solace to families to see where their loved ones had fallen and been buried. It must have been an incredibly difficult journey for anyone who undertook it 100 years ago. Hopefully with the tours people would come away with a greater appreciation of what war really means and a determination never to allow it to happen again. If only they knew what the future would hold.
The third woman couldn't have been more different from Ruby and Martha, Alice Palmer comes from a wealthy American background and is in Europe to search for her brother Sam. He was last declared missing and the family want affirmative answers. Was he captured by the Germans? Was he a deserter? Or was his ultimate fate -death? Alice too was brave like Ruby but I think I preferred Ruby's character. Alice seemed to be over the top and at times it felt romance played a more important factor than finding the answers did. The women only had a week to uncover what they were looking for and Alice seemed to be more enamoured with her old flame Daniel Martens. She conveniently forgot she had a fiancée waiting back at home for her. Yet she was the force that pushed Ruby on, to abandon the organised tour and go to Hops to meet the locals and ask the questions that needed to be spoken out loud. The details of the village of Hops and the surrounding areas were incredible. The author clearly undertook a lot of research and I build up a vivid, realistic picture in my mind that really enhanced my enjoyment and understanding of the story. It made me appreciate how much the people who were very near to the front-lines of the battle fields endured and how they suffered long after the final shot was fired. So much historical detail was brought to life through the three women's stories and I felt every emotion they were experiencing. I knew there could not have been a happy outcome for all, that would have gone against the authenticity and the character of the book. But still I was ever hopeful regarding certain characters.
In Love and War was an excellent book. It's wrong to say I enjoyed or loved it given the subject matter. Maybe those are not the best words to use but that is how I felt about this story. The characters and setting leap off the page to meet you and transport you back 100 years to a world very different in some ways to the one we inhabit now yet in others war is still very much a part of our lives today. Liz Trenow has done an exceptional job of bringing to life characters you feel such empathy and compassion for. I would never have given any thought for what happened after the war as the world kept turning and other events stepped in to take its place, make the news and have people talking. It was fitting in the centenary year of the conclusion of World War One that this was published and Liz Trenow should be proud of the story she has written. It's beautifully crafted and one which gives lots of food for thought and discussion. One not to be missed.
In Love and War is entirely fictional but was inspired by real people, places and events. Tubby Clayton, the army Chaplin /priest who helps Ruby was a real person and it was lovely to see the light shone upon a person who may have ultimately been eroded from history despite the valuable role they played. The themes of the book are very much ones of bereavement and how to cope but also reconciliation, forgiveness and acceptance play a huge part. This book is not full of drama as there had been enough dramatics and horror with the unspeakable events of the war with so many lives lost. Instead this is a subtle exploration of trying to find understanding in order for peace to enter into one's heart. The pace of the story is slow and languid. It doesn't need twists and turns on every page to keep the reader hooked. Sometimes the quality of the words speak for themselves rather than actions. There is no necessity for this as the characters and the trip they are on through such astute, careful writing does the work instead of surprises thrown in just for the sake of it. Yes towards the end there are a few shocks, some pleasant, some not but they didn't interrupt the flow of the overall story. They were placed at essential points and helped the reader clarify things or assumptions they may have had were confirmed or denied.
Initially, I wondered was having three women as the main characters just that bit too much too focus on but I was quickly proven wrong. As there is many sides to a story, so there is many sides to a war and all three provided valid viewpoints and allowed a well rounded opinion of things to come through. It never felt like the author herself was coming down on one side or the author. She stood back and took in all aspects and presented a very well balanced viewpoint. It was different to see a German woman featured-Martha and her son Otto. Normally, I read stories focusing on either of the wars and it is all about the English side so it was refreshing and an eye opener for me. It makes the reader realise the opposing side, despite the terror they inflicted had families waiting at home for them too and at the end of the day they suffered just as much as everyone else did. Martha is fulfilling the final promise of her husband who passed away from the Spanish flu. She wishes to reunite medals with her son Heinrich. This is a bitter sweet journey filled with pain and heartache as they are not reuniting with their loved one instead searching for the place of his burial. One of hundreds of thousands of men who lost their lives. Being German and travelling to Belgium would certainly have not been recommended following the conclusion of war. Hatred, anger, suspicion and revenge abound but a mother and wife's love is strong and she wishes to see the request through until she finds that resting place.
Ruby Barton is travelling from England, leaving on a boat for the first time in her life. Belgium is her destination and she wishes the reasons for her journey were not there. That she would be journeying from England with a happier goal in mind. She is on a tour organised by Thomas Cook of the Belgian battlefields in Flanders, where families of those who fought can see where everything happened and try and find the grave of their relation amongst the hundreds of thousands. In this case it is Ruby's husband, Bertie. She doesn't want to go on the trip. She is grieving, she wants peace, to live a quiet ordered life honouring his memory and never to allow heartache to reach her door again. She wants to remain shut off from any further mentions of love. The reader can see there is something else also eating away at her and until she can satisfy this no resolution can be found. She feels duty bound to visit the grave sites as instructed by her parents in law.
Ruby was very much like a fish out of water and I felt she was brave going on her own not knowing what she would encounter. A country torn apart by war with villages decimated and people struggling to live amongst ruins and the lack of food and facilities. How macabre it must have been for the Belgians to have foreigners as such still encroaching on their land and country even after the war had concluded. On the other hand these tours must have brought solace to families to see where their loved ones had fallen and been buried. It must have been an incredibly difficult journey for anyone who undertook it 100 years ago. Hopefully with the tours people would come away with a greater appreciation of what war really means and a determination never to allow it to happen again. If only they knew what the future would hold.
The third woman couldn't have been more different from Ruby and Martha, Alice Palmer comes from a wealthy American background and is in Europe to search for her brother Sam. He was last declared missing and the family want affirmative answers. Was he captured by the Germans? Was he a deserter? Or was his ultimate fate -death? Alice too was brave like Ruby but I think I preferred Ruby's character. Alice seemed to be over the top and at times it felt romance played a more important factor than finding the answers did. The women only had a week to uncover what they were looking for and Alice seemed to be more enamoured with her old flame Daniel Martens. She conveniently forgot she had a fiancée waiting back at home for her. Yet she was the force that pushed Ruby on, to abandon the organised tour and go to Hops to meet the locals and ask the questions that needed to be spoken out loud. The details of the village of Hops and the surrounding areas were incredible. The author clearly undertook a lot of research and I build up a vivid, realistic picture in my mind that really enhanced my enjoyment and understanding of the story. It made me appreciate how much the people who were very near to the front-lines of the battle fields endured and how they suffered long after the final shot was fired. So much historical detail was brought to life through the three women's stories and I felt every emotion they were experiencing. I knew there could not have been a happy outcome for all, that would have gone against the authenticity and the character of the book. But still I was ever hopeful regarding certain characters.
In Love and War was an excellent book. It's wrong to say I enjoyed or loved it given the subject matter. Maybe those are not the best words to use but that is how I felt about this story. The characters and setting leap off the page to meet you and transport you back 100 years to a world very different in some ways to the one we inhabit now yet in others war is still very much a part of our lives today. Liz Trenow has done an exceptional job of bringing to life characters you feel such empathy and compassion for. I would never have given any thought for what happened after the war as the world kept turning and other events stepped in to take its place, make the news and have people talking. It was fitting in the centenary year of the conclusion of World War One that this was published and Liz Trenow should be proud of the story she has written. It's beautifully crafted and one which gives lots of food for thought and discussion. One not to be missed.
August 13, 2018
I found this book really interesting as I knew nothing of the tours they conducted after WWI. The characters were believable and their emotions really showed through. I'd be very happy to read more books by this author.
February 9, 2018
Review to come!
September 5, 2018
Demorei a ler, mas foi por falta de tempo, pois o livro está muito bom na minha opinião.
Primeiro andava danada porque queria saber o que ia acontecer, mas simplesmente não tinha tempo para ler.
Passei por um misto de emoções durante a leitura porque não gosto muito de ler sobre a guerra, mas este livro está muito leve e ao mesmo tempo provoca emoções tão fortes em mim.
Opinião completa em: http://aviciadadoslivros.blogspot.com...
Primeiro andava danada porque queria saber o que ia acontecer, mas simplesmente não tinha tempo para ler.
Passei por um misto de emoções durante a leitura porque não gosto muito de ler sobre a guerra, mas este livro está muito leve e ao mesmo tempo provoca emoções tão fortes em mim.
Opinião completa em: http://aviciadadoslivros.blogspot.com...
March 1, 2019
Ho letto questo libro con molta attenzione perché il tema, apparentemente destinato ad un romanzo, è ancora molto sentito dopo le celebrazioni, nel 2018, per il centenario della fine della Prima Guerra Mondiale, e se ne è riparlato molto in tutti i paesi che furono coinvolti.
Una guerra tremenda, l’ultima combattuta nelle trincee e nel corpo a corpo con le baionette, che ha lasciato sui campi di combattimento migliaia di vittime senza nome. Un numero elevatissimo era composto da ragazzini appena diciottenni, moltissimi dei quali partiti per il fronte con l’idea malata di salvare il proprio paese e diventare degli eroi. Ma la realtà fu un’altra, e troppi non tornarono a casa, rimanendo sulla terra insepolti o sommariamente gettati in una fossa senza nome.
Questo è stato il destino di tre giovani uomini, che avevano lasciato a casa una moglie, una sorella ed una madre.
Ora la sorte le accomuna, perché in cerca della tomba o di notizie certe dei loro cari. Ruby è inglese, non vuole partire per i campi del Belgio, ma il ricatto morale dei suoceri la spinge a farlo; qui sulla nave che attraversa la Manica incontra Alice, ricca americana sfrontata, abbigliata come se andasse a prendere un the in centro. Alice, convinta che suo fratello non possa essere morto e intenzionata a smuovere vecchie conoscenze per trovarlo, sarà un’ancora di salvezza per la giovane e timida vedova.
Successivamente i ruoli si invertiranno e sarà Ruby a sostenerne il cammino.
Per ultima incontriamo la più coraggiosa delle tre, è tedesca, sa di essere odiata e disprezzata in terra nemica, e per questo cercherà di camuffare da svizzera sia lei che suo figlio minore. Cercano Heinrich, il figlio maggiore sepolto chissà dove, per portargli la medaglia del nonno come promesso al defunto padre. Questo è il personaggio che più mi ha colpito, il grande dolore di una madre che è certa di aver perso il suo bel ragazzone, che non si spaventerà di fronte al disprezzo dei belgi, e andrà fino in fondo senza arretrare. Sarà senz’altro un esempio anche per Ruby e Alice perché, sebbene rappresenti il nemico e la causa della morte dei loro cari, non si potrà non restare commossi di fronte al dolore di una madre, che la accumunerà a tante altre madri, mogli e figlie di tutte le fazioni.
Scritto come di consueto con grande perizia storiografica, ed un’attenta ricostruzione dei fatti e degli ambienti, questo nuovo romanzo di Liz Trenow meriterebbe senz’altro sei stelle per la delicatezza e l’attenzione con le quali tratta un argomento così duro e sofferto. È senz’altro uno di quei “libri per non dimenticare” che va letto.
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Emanuela - per RFS
Una guerra tremenda, l’ultima combattuta nelle trincee e nel corpo a corpo con le baionette, che ha lasciato sui campi di combattimento migliaia di vittime senza nome. Un numero elevatissimo era composto da ragazzini appena diciottenni, moltissimi dei quali partiti per il fronte con l’idea malata di salvare il proprio paese e diventare degli eroi. Ma la realtà fu un’altra, e troppi non tornarono a casa, rimanendo sulla terra insepolti o sommariamente gettati in una fossa senza nome.
Questo è stato il destino di tre giovani uomini, che avevano lasciato a casa una moglie, una sorella ed una madre.
Ora la sorte le accomuna, perché in cerca della tomba o di notizie certe dei loro cari. Ruby è inglese, non vuole partire per i campi del Belgio, ma il ricatto morale dei suoceri la spinge a farlo; qui sulla nave che attraversa la Manica incontra Alice, ricca americana sfrontata, abbigliata come se andasse a prendere un the in centro. Alice, convinta che suo fratello non possa essere morto e intenzionata a smuovere vecchie conoscenze per trovarlo, sarà un’ancora di salvezza per la giovane e timida vedova.
Successivamente i ruoli si invertiranno e sarà Ruby a sostenerne il cammino.
Per ultima incontriamo la più coraggiosa delle tre, è tedesca, sa di essere odiata e disprezzata in terra nemica, e per questo cercherà di camuffare da svizzera sia lei che suo figlio minore. Cercano Heinrich, il figlio maggiore sepolto chissà dove, per portargli la medaglia del nonno come promesso al defunto padre. Questo è il personaggio che più mi ha colpito, il grande dolore di una madre che è certa di aver perso il suo bel ragazzone, che non si spaventerà di fronte al disprezzo dei belgi, e andrà fino in fondo senza arretrare. Sarà senz’altro un esempio anche per Ruby e Alice perché, sebbene rappresenti il nemico e la causa della morte dei loro cari, non si potrà non restare commossi di fronte al dolore di una madre, che la accumunerà a tante altre madri, mogli e figlie di tutte le fazioni.
Scritto come di consueto con grande perizia storiografica, ed un’attenta ricostruzione dei fatti e degli ambienti, questo nuovo romanzo di Liz Trenow meriterebbe senz’altro sei stelle per la delicatezza e l’attenzione con le quali tratta un argomento così duro e sofferto. È senz’altro uno di quei “libri per non dimenticare” che va letto.
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Emanuela - per RFS
January 25, 2018
This was a simply beautiful “quiet” read, focusing on three fascinating women who visit the graveyards of Flanders shortly after the end of the First World War, searching for their missing loved ones. As well as searching for her husband’s grave, Ruby is looking for forgiveness for a deed she bitterly regrets. Alice’s brother joined up under the Canadian flag and probably under a false name, so her search is never going to be easy – but meeting up with a man from her past life adds an interesting twist. And then there is Martha, searching for her older son, accompanied by her younger son Otto… but without the support, and not in the same graveyards.
The story itself is enthralling, as these three very different women strive for the outcomes they hope for. They are perfectly drawn, each of them affected and changed by their experience, strengths and weaknesses exposed in unexpected ways. The backdrop is vividly described – the lush farmlands giving way to devastation and waste as they near Hoppestadt, the trenches still visible and bringing a horrifying reality to the theatre of war, bodies still being recovered nearby, the vast graveyards shocking with their evidence of wasted lives, the visual reminders of the way deserters were dealt with. The insight into the lives of those whose towns and homes were impacted is also superbly handled – with the feelings about the Germany that caused the devastation barely concealed beneath their brave attempts to rebuild and start again.
The emotional impact of this book is enormous – I cried so many times, and ached at the injustice and unfairness of it all. But it’s also immensely uplifting, with its concentration on the goodness and kindness of individuals – and the moving message that people are perhaps better remembered for their actions than by visiting their memorials. This lovely book will remain in my memory for a very long time to come…
The story itself is enthralling, as these three very different women strive for the outcomes they hope for. They are perfectly drawn, each of them affected and changed by their experience, strengths and weaknesses exposed in unexpected ways. The backdrop is vividly described – the lush farmlands giving way to devastation and waste as they near Hoppestadt, the trenches still visible and bringing a horrifying reality to the theatre of war, bodies still being recovered nearby, the vast graveyards shocking with their evidence of wasted lives, the visual reminders of the way deserters were dealt with. The insight into the lives of those whose towns and homes were impacted is also superbly handled – with the feelings about the Germany that caused the devastation barely concealed beneath their brave attempts to rebuild and start again.
The emotional impact of this book is enormous – I cried so many times, and ached at the injustice and unfairness of it all. But it’s also immensely uplifting, with its concentration on the goodness and kindness of individuals – and the moving message that people are perhaps better remembered for their actions than by visiting their memorials. This lovely book will remain in my memory for a very long time to come…
August 28, 2018
Absolutely LOVED this book!!!! I don't even think my review would do it justice and be able to capture the book properly. This story was about love and forgiveness and brought together people who were unlikely to ever meet. Martha and Ruby were my favorite characters. Martha was so brave traveling to Belgium from Germany with her young son. The war only recently ended and the Belgian people were still recovering and pretty much hated the Germans. By the end I didn't mind Alice so much.
This is the story of Alice, Ruby and Martha who all meet while searching for someone they lost. They are an unlikely trio. Alice is American, Ruby is British and Martha is German. The First World War has just ended. Ruby and Alice meet after signing up for "Tours of the battlefields of Flanders." Ruby's in-laws signed her up for the trip and she was reluctant ant to go. Ruby's husband was killed during battle and wants to find his burial spot so she can ask him for forgiveness. Alice is trying to find her brother. He signed up with the Canadians under a false name and is unable to be located. Martha and her son Otto travel to Belgium to try to locate her oldest son's grave. She has no confirmation of his death but all her letters to him have been returned and he is missing, presumed dead. Ruby, Alice and Martha end up helping each other when they need it the most. Eventually they are able to find out what they needed to about their loved one.
I loved the story, writing style and characters. I loved getting to know Alice, Ruby and Martha. When the book was over, I didn't want to say goodbye to them. I wanted to continue with their story and find out what happens when they all go home. I definitely recommend it and can't wait to read more books by the author. I also loved the cover of this book.
Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author, Liz Trenow, for a free electronic ARC of this novel.
This is the story of Alice, Ruby and Martha who all meet while searching for someone they lost. They are an unlikely trio. Alice is American, Ruby is British and Martha is German. The First World War has just ended. Ruby and Alice meet after signing up for "Tours of the battlefields of Flanders." Ruby's in-laws signed her up for the trip and she was reluctant ant to go. Ruby's husband was killed during battle and wants to find his burial spot so she can ask him for forgiveness. Alice is trying to find her brother. He signed up with the Canadians under a false name and is unable to be located. Martha and her son Otto travel to Belgium to try to locate her oldest son's grave. She has no confirmation of his death but all her letters to him have been returned and he is missing, presumed dead. Ruby, Alice and Martha end up helping each other when they need it the most. Eventually they are able to find out what they needed to about their loved one.
I loved the story, writing style and characters. I loved getting to know Alice, Ruby and Martha. When the book was over, I didn't want to say goodbye to them. I wanted to continue with their story and find out what happens when they all go home. I definitely recommend it and can't wait to read more books by the author. I also loved the cover of this book.
Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author, Liz Trenow, for a free electronic ARC of this novel.
August 24, 2019
Bij het zien van de schitterende cover van De verloren soldaten van Liz Trenow krijg je een rustgevend gevoel ondanks de donkere wolken die boven het veld met klaprozen hangen. Het gezicht van de vrouw is niet goed zichtbaar waardoor je ook niet meteen een beeld krijgt van de gemoedstoestand van de vrouw. Is ze verdrietig of is ze weemoedig? De titel maakt nieuwsgierig, je wilt weten wat ermee bedoeld wordt.
De verloren soldaten van Liz Trenow speelt zich vlak na de Eerste Wereldoorlog af en belicht drie vrouwen die ieder om hun eigen redenen een, op het eerste gezicht, nog al lugubere tour maken. Een tour wat laat zien dat geld verdienen met overledenen niets nieuws is, maar dat minstens een eeuw geleden, naar het schijnt, ook al gewoon was. Het verhaal begint dan ook met een tegen- en een voorstander voor die tour. Beide personen begrijp je en zet je aan het denken.
Het verhaal draait om drie totaal verschillende vrouwen die ieder zo hun eigen verhalen, hun eigen geheimen en hun eigen redenen hebben om af te reizen naar België om op zoek te gaan naar het graf van hun zoon, broer en man, maar is er wel een graf of zouden ze nog in leven zijn?
Lees verder op https://surfingann.blogspot.com/2019/... .
De verloren soldaten van Liz Trenow speelt zich vlak na de Eerste Wereldoorlog af en belicht drie vrouwen die ieder om hun eigen redenen een, op het eerste gezicht, nog al lugubere tour maken. Een tour wat laat zien dat geld verdienen met overledenen niets nieuws is, maar dat minstens een eeuw geleden, naar het schijnt, ook al gewoon was. Het verhaal begint dan ook met een tegen- en een voorstander voor die tour. Beide personen begrijp je en zet je aan het denken.
Het verhaal draait om drie totaal verschillende vrouwen die ieder zo hun eigen verhalen, hun eigen geheimen en hun eigen redenen hebben om af te reizen naar België om op zoek te gaan naar het graf van hun zoon, broer en man, maar is er wel een graf of zouden ze nog in leven zijn?
Lees verder op https://surfingann.blogspot.com/2019/... .
December 4, 2025
A really good read by Lily Baxter. Elsie was a great main character and the setting of England, France and Belgium during 1914 first world war was heartbreaking to read however good the story was.
I really liked Marianne as a character and Henri , but I feel that Elsie's love interest Guy was a part-time character and I feel like I didn't know him and I wanted more which is why I cannot give this book 5 stars.
This book is now heading to my mum, but I would like to send it to my Auntie Liz afterwards because I think she would like it too.
I really liked Marianne as a character and Henri , but I feel that Elsie's love interest Guy was a part-time character and I feel like I didn't know him and I wanted more which is why I cannot give this book 5 stars.
This book is now heading to my mum, but I would like to send it to my Auntie Liz afterwards because I think she would like it too.
January 22, 2018
I was lucky enough to obtain this book through the Goodreads Giveaways and it is the first book by Liz Trenow that I have read. Although I have read quite a few books based on the First World War, this is the first book I have read concerning the tourist tours immediately after the end of the War. I was drawn into the stories of Ruby, Alice and Martha and was keen to see if they found what they were looking for. However, I did feel that the story was probably a bit unrealistic and too coincidental but I will still be recommending it to family and friends.
May 13, 2022
After visiting Ypres I wanted to read a novel set in the same place. At first the title In Love and War almost made me skip this book cause it sounded a bit corny but I'm glad I read this one, it was beautiful. It's the story of three women, from three very different backgrounds visiting Ypres just after World War One all looking for lost loved ones. The story drew me in immediately. I really felt for all the main characters and wanted to know what would happen to them. A lovely read!
February 4, 2018
Fascinating in lots of ways especially as I visit the area it is set in regularly.
January 11, 2020
A great read. An interesting and unusual story.
June 25, 2019
Pilgrimage to Ypres, WWI battlefields by 3 women.
Poignant search for soldiers midst the devastation of Belgium’s battlefields. My paternal grandmother actually undertook an extensive search for her husband, Captain Alfred Amory Sullivan who died at the Battle of the Somme leading an assault from the trenches but whose body was never recovered. Today, the area has manicured cemeteries. This book describes the shelled villages and battle zone as the combatants experienced them.
Poignant search for soldiers midst the devastation of Belgium’s battlefields. My paternal grandmother actually undertook an extensive search for her husband, Captain Alfred Amory Sullivan who died at the Battle of the Somme leading an assault from the trenches but whose body was never recovered. Today, the area has manicured cemeteries. This book describes the shelled villages and battle zone as the combatants experienced them.
July 25, 2019
Interessant en prima beschreven tijdsbeeld. Jammer van de wat slappe verhaallijnen en stereotype karakters. Al met al een redelijk boek, wel lekkere vakantielectuur. In één ruk uitgelezen tijdens ons verblijf in de Westhoek, waar dit verhaal zich afspeelt.
March 2, 2020
Excellent. One quote...there can be no peace without forgiveness. Unfortunately we continue to fail to live up to this.
I will be optimistic and hope that someday “ the world will learn to get along”.
I will be optimistic and hope that someday “ the world will learn to get along”.
August 19, 2019
I’d Say This Is A Book That Changed Me - A Great Read That Provided Me With Information I Didn’t Know Regarding The Troubles Families Had In Locating Their Loved Ones Graves. Lovely Characters. The Author Set The Scene Well By Having The Three Woman From Different Countries Coming Together, Showing WWI Affected People From All Backgrounds
February 14, 2018
I don't usually go for multiple points of view, but I was immediately attracted to this book. And it didn't disappoint! I found the subject of the aftermath of WW1 fascinating. I had never heard of tourist tours going to the battlefields so soon after the war. Liz Trenow did a terrific job at recreating the times and the settings - the food, the fashion, the everyday life, everything is there. The fact that each character is a different nationality is also a great tool to explore the theme of war and the different sides of the story. The characters are well fleshed out with a good backstory, and I felt I rooted for all of them. The book is also quite a fast read despite being more character driven than plot driven. I finished in a couple of days.
The one thing that bothered me a little was there were too many coincidences for my liking. A coincidence can happen, but several and it becomes a bit unbelievable. However, that didn't detract from the fact that it was a great story. I'm not usually drawn to war stories as I find it hard to read - too much suffering! But In Love and War has made me want to read more about WW1.
Disclaimer - I received a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to NetGallet and PanMacmillan.
The one thing that bothered me a little was there were too many coincidences for my liking. A coincidence can happen, but several and it becomes a bit unbelievable. However, that didn't detract from the fact that it was a great story. I'm not usually drawn to war stories as I find it hard to read - too much suffering! But In Love and War has made me want to read more about WW1.
Disclaimer - I received a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to NetGallet and PanMacmillan.
May 27, 2020
It was okay.
Interesting premise but too slow moving for my tastes. Didn't really grab me and make me want to pick it up and read whenever I had free time. I did get invested enough to want to see if these women would find their loved ones, but then was pretty disappointed at the end to not get the closure I was hoping for. There was some good in the end; finding inner peace, overcoming grief and accepting each other as human, all affected by war no matter which side you were on. But I needed more to the ending than that.
There were also these kind of side stories going on for each character and at least one seemed unnecessary and made me dislike that character. Didn't really have anything to do with the war or finding her loved one. Just her screwing up her life a bit, but it was all hunky dory at the end, she just won't tell anyone about it. Did not like that.
The beautiful cover and synopsis deceived me, this book just wasn't my cup of tea.
Interesting premise but too slow moving for my tastes. Didn't really grab me and make me want to pick it up and read whenever I had free time. I did get invested enough to want to see if these women would find their loved ones, but then was pretty disappointed at the end to not get the closure I was hoping for. There was some good in the end; finding inner peace, overcoming grief and accepting each other as human, all affected by war no matter which side you were on. But I needed more to the ending than that.
There were also these kind of side stories going on for each character and at least one seemed unnecessary and made me dislike that character. Didn't really have anything to do with the war or finding her loved one. Just her screwing up her life a bit, but it was all hunky dory at the end, she just won't tell anyone about it. Did not like that.
The beautiful cover and synopsis deceived me, this book just wasn't my cup of tea.
September 3, 2018
2.5 stars. Perhaps I’ve glutted myself on WWI fiction by now, but this one struggled to keep my interest. I certainly appreciate the premise, but the characters were cardboard cutouts and nothing really rang true (for me) about the human emotion they should have been feeling. It was a lot of platitudes rather than unique stories with individual tragedies, despite the attempt to show three perspectives of the conflict.
A really big thorn in my side here was the author’s choice to rename Poperinghe. Why? Is the town name trademarked? I have been there, I’ve visited Talbot House, and while I think the book covers this decently, the renaming of Poperinghe to Hoppestadt was completely unnecessary (unless I am totally missing something).
I could see good details of research in the story at times, but the characters were neglected in favor of such scene-setting.
A really big thorn in my side here was the author’s choice to rename Poperinghe. Why? Is the town name trademarked? I have been there, I’ve visited Talbot House, and while I think the book covers this decently, the renaming of Poperinghe to Hoppestadt was completely unnecessary (unless I am totally missing something).
I could see good details of research in the story at times, but the characters were neglected in favor of such scene-setting.
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