The Line Between Us

by Kate Dunn, Richard Mitchley (Reading)

Ifor is the gardener at Nanagalan, a manor house on the Welsh borders. When he falls in love with Ella, the daughter of the house, Ifor must stifle his passion, for the lines between social classes are rigidly drawn. He marries local librarian Jenny, but his love for Ella casts a shadow over their relationship. When war breaks out, Ifor enlists and is one of a small number of soldiers left in France after the evacuation from Dunkirk. The Lancastria is sent to recover them, but it is bombed by the Germans. Left battling for survival in the icy waters, will Ifor make it home alive and finally find a way to tell Ella his true feelings?

Genres: Historical Fiction

Audio CD

First published August 19, 2016

Reviews

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ifor Griffiths is only nine years old, when the telegram’s arrive notifying his mother that her son and then her beloved husband have been killed in action during WW I. His heartbroken mother made him promise he would never wear a uniform, go to war and Ifor has no idea that he wouldn’t be able to keep his promise.

Ifor's a grammar school boy, he plans to continue studying and he's forced to leave school to support his mother. He’s employed as a gardener at Nanagalan a Welsh estate, he and the owner’s daughter Ella are both fifteen. The teenagers have fun together, Ella’s mother Lillah notices their budding friendship and they quickly depart for Scotland.

Ifor continues to work as a gardener at Nanagalan, until he’s called up for duty in 1940, after the retreat from Dunkirk and he finds himself on a sinking boat the Lancastria. Ifor’s trying to stay afloat in the cold sea, he looks back at his relationship with Ella, and he desperately want's to make it back to Norwithy. The Line Between Us is a story about young love, at the time it wasn't possible and years later Ifor still longs for his lost love, a quick read and three stars from me.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set between the wars, this is an evocative story of the forbidden love between Ifor, the gardener’s boy at Nanagalan House in the Welsh borders, whose ambition both professionally and romantically is thwarted by his class, and Miss Ella, the daughter of the house.

Imagine ‘On the Black Hills’ by Bruce Chatwin mixed with Henri Alain-Fournier’s ‘Le Grand Meaulnes’ and you’ll have an intimation of what to expect from this beautifully written novel.

[Gin Tadvick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive a free copy of this book from Endeavour Press in exchange for an honest review.

Timing of the story is from the end of WWI to action in WWII. Ifor Griffiths is a young boy when this book begins, just learning of the loss of his brother and father in WWI. Left behind in this WWI loss is Ifor’s hard working mother, his sister – the social activist and Ifor, who tries to lessen the grief of the remaining members of his family. Although he was academically astute, at fourteen he quit school to become a gardener at the major and historical manor in his area – essentially following in his father’s footsteps. It is through this connection to the Manor of Nanagalan that Ifor meets and falls in love with the Lord’s daughter, Ella.

Theirs is a typical star-crossed, frustrating class- conflicted love story of poor working boy loving wealthy upper class girl – their love destined not to be and to make others around them just as miserable in their midst. What’s not typical is how Kate Dunn tells this tale – in dreams and flashbacks that keep you reading – wanting to read so that the story will come out with a happy ending.

While the book was compared to DE Stevenson’s storytelling genre, I thought that the writing was clearer and thoroughly enjoyed reading Kate Dunn’s book. I sincerely hope that she finds more stories to tell.

[Sarah MacIntyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of loss, sadness and the hard years between the two World Wars. Ifor Griffiths a young boy during WW1 sadly loses a brother and father during WW1 and finds himself in action during WW2. It follows the lives of those left behind, his mother a hardworking widow, his sister the campaigner and Ifor who though highly educated had to work from the age of 14 as a gardener. It follows the relationship of the workers and the gentry of the big house.

A really poignant tale. A frustrating love story based on the class system of the day. Also the first time I have read about the sinking of the Lancastria, such a tragic part of history. I enjoyed this book and recommend to all who love history fiction particularly focused on the years between the World Wars. I received a review copy of this book from Endeavour Press in exchange for an honest review.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book*

I am struggling to write this review. It is not that I didn't like the book. I have to be in the mood for a book like this because it is a slower read. This book is like the classics that people either love or hate. I have always been pretty neutral on those types of books. I like them in smaller doses. This book took me almost two months to read because I had to keep stepping away from it. It is a tragic love story of two people that are so in love with each other but can never be together. It almost reminds of Wuthering Heights. If you are a fan of classics like Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre and Pride & Prejudice then this is definitely for you.

[Lucy Melville · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ifor and Ella can never be together; he is her gardener and she is the daughter of wealthy landowners in a small town in Wales. They meet when they are fifteen and fall in love. The book starts during the First World War and ends with the second and tells how people's lives were shaped by them both.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy, if you like Kate Morton then you will enjoy this book. It is a gentle romance with some twists which will leave you feeling a bit infuriated and sad about people's lack of honesty and how the British class system was so ridiculous and most of all that life is short and you only get one chance in life so grab it while you can.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this novel from Endeavor Press, but after reading a few chapters I decided it was worth buying, so I finished reading it on my Kindle.

The hook for me was that the story was compared to novels by D.E. Stevenson. While I did not find this to be too similar to Stevenson's writing, the story of Ifor and Ella, from different classes of society in Wales between WWI and WWII, was intriguing.

Overall, it was a pleasant read.

[Susan Wüthrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most compelling read and beautifully written.

[Mikaela (Booklover1974) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a slow burning historical story that you'll love if you like Kate Morton.

The book starts during the First World War with Ifor and his family, that lives close to the Welsh border. His father and brother dies in the war, but Ifor is still a young boy and can't enlist. After the war he becomes a gardener at the manor Nanagalan, where he falls in love with the daugther of the house, Ella. Their story is heartbreaking and frustrating.

I liked the book but it isn't a perfect fit for me. It was a little too slow, but I know a lot of people who loves a slow pace, so this is just me and my preferences.

The Publishers kindly provided me with a free copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Jackie White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive a free copy of this book from Endeavour Press in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story of war, but so much more a story of love, but so much more - overall it is a story of life.
So well written I found it hard to put down.
Ifor marries for convenience as the girl he loves is out of reach. And then war happens....as the story unfolds, it's powerful stuff & I cared what happened to him. Would he make his marriage work? Or would he & Ella be together? What of the baby?
If he survived the war.....

Great book, highly recommended.
If I had a criticism it would be the ending - without giving anything away, it's not clear exactly what choices Ifor makes.

[Courtenay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I personally didn't enjoy this book mainly because it had been marketed to me as similar to, "At the Going Down of the Sun." I was anticipating more to do with World War II and battles and less emphasis on repressed, forbidden love. Maybe one chapter in total was dedicated to the sinking of the Lancastria and the rest was overall depressive living with the emphasis on the separation of classes. The book was well written and if one doesn't mind non-happy endings then it's a worthy read. Unfortunately there's enough negative going on that unhappy books don't have a place in my library (family member fighting cancer)... over all just didn't enjoy it.

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story well told. Dunn has hit several sweet spots for those who like historical novels- it's set in between WWI and WWII and in the early part of WWII and it's about a Welshman. The sense of place is terrific. This would have merited a longer novel. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC which introduced me to Dunn; I'm going to look for her again.