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Utolsó levél haza
Egy olaszországi nyaralás alatt, Briony Woodot lenyűgözi a Nápoly dombjai között megbúvó, romos villa háborús története. Nem csupán maga a hely, ahol nagyapja 1943-ban katonaként állomásozott, de fölfedezi, hogy az épület egy régóta elveszett szerelem titkát is őrzi.
Brionyt elragadtatják a villában eltemetve talált, ütött-kopott levelek, amelyek egy angol nő, Sarah Bailey meg egy német fiatalember, Paul Hartmann között virágzó szerelemről íródtak - és közel hetven évvel korábbra, a háború előtti Norfolkba vezették vissza őt.
Ám miközben Briony beleveti magát Sarah és Paul történetébe, még mindig szigorúan őrzött titkokba és sajnálatba ütközik. Túl hamar világossá válik számára, hogy ami réges-régen a Vezúv árnyékában történt, gyanúja szerint még minidig képes szörnyű fájdalmat okozni.
"Megragadó, elbűvölő, tökéletes nyári élvezet" SANTA MONTEFIORE'
Brionyt elragadtatják a villában eltemetve talált, ütött-kopott levelek, amelyek egy angol nő, Sarah Bailey meg egy német fiatalember, Paul Hartmann között virágzó szerelemről íródtak - és közel hetven évvel korábbra, a háború előtti Norfolkba vezették vissza őt.
Ám miközben Briony beleveti magát Sarah és Paul történetébe, még mindig szigorúan őrzött titkokba és sajnálatba ütközik. Túl hamar világossá válik számára, hogy ami réges-régen a Vezúv árnyékában történt, gyanúja szerint még minidig képes szörnyű fájdalmat okozni.
"Megragadó, elbűvölő, tökéletes nyári élvezet" SANTA MONTEFIORE'
500 pages, Paperback
First published March 22, 2018
190 people are currently reading
1207 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Hore
38 books745 followersRachel Hore worked in London publishing for many years before moving with her family to Norwich, Norfolk and turning to writing fiction.
Rachel is the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Dream House (2006), The Memory Garden (2007), The Glass Painter's Daughter (2009), which was shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Association Novel of the Year 2010, A Place of Secrets (2010), which was a Richard and Judy Bookclub pick, and A Gathering Storm (2011), which was shortlisted for the RNA Historical Novel of the year, 2012. The Silent Tide was published in 2013, A Week in Paris in 2014 and The House on Bellevue Gardens in 2015.
Her new novel, Last Letter Home, will be published on 22nd March 2018.
Rachel is the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Dream House (2006), The Memory Garden (2007), The Glass Painter's Daughter (2009), which was shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Association Novel of the Year 2010, A Place of Secrets (2010), which was a Richard and Judy Bookclub pick, and A Gathering Storm (2011), which was shortlisted for the RNA Historical Novel of the year, 2012. The Silent Tide was published in 2013, A Week in Paris in 2014 and The House on Bellevue Gardens in 2015.
Her new novel, Last Letter Home, will be published on 22nd March 2018.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 210 reviews
February 12, 2018
Briony a historian has gone to Italy on holiday with friends. While out walking one day she stumbles across a ruined villa that has connections to her late grandfather who was stationed there in 1943 during the war. She is given some film reels and letters by a local woman that had been left at the villa after the soldiers moved out. Briony decides to try and find out about Sarah and Paul the writer and recipient of the letters. This takes her on a journey of discovery and a secret that has been hidden for many years. I would like to thank NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 20, 2018
Visit the locations in the novel
I’m a sucker for dual time line stories and I do love a Rachel Hore novel so this ticked two boxes from the off! The crosses remained firmly in place as this was a fine story!
Two stories work well but I did love the historical part the best – the letters literarily come to life and I did love following the story of Sarah and Paul. There’s something so poignant and heartbreaking about love in war time and the way Rachel captured this was quite fitting! These letters were tricky to read in the present day so what was it like for Sarah at the time!
The settings here also really helped as Norfolk and Italy – well you can’t get too more different locations than these. The way Rachel wove in the story of the Italian campaign and the war time community spirit made it all the more interesting and fleshed out as a novel. The settings in Italy were a mix of exotic and wartime but the pride of a nation was plain to see as well as the outsiders there to fight who desperately wanted to come home.
Rachel Hore always writes so you can easily identify or at least sympathise/empathise with the characters and there were some really touching moments/ Letters from war time have that certain magic about them, history in an envelope, and I enjoyed the novel which signed, sealed and delivered on all counts.
February 26, 2021
Historian Briony Wood becomes intrigued by the wartime story of a ruined villa in Italy. She finds there is a connection with her grandfather who was a British solder during world war 2. With the aid of a bundle of letters from that time, Briony sets out to trace the story of Sarah Bailey. The year is 2016. Like many novels these days this is a duel time line story. The other story is that of Sarah Bailey starting in 1938 and continuing through the war years. In 1938, after the death of her father, Sarah and her mother return to England from India. She meets Paul Hartmann, who has a German father and English mother. Having escaped Germany after his father ifs killed, Paul is working as a gardener at the local manor house. When war erupts Sarah and Paul are pulled apart by circumstances. As Briony begins to uncover Sarah and Paul’s story, secrets are revealed. Should they be kept so lives are not painfully affected?
I started this story enthusiastically as I have read and enjoyed several of this author’s books. But for some reason I never full engaged with this one. As often happens with duel time line stories one story usually works better than the other. In this case it was the war story. But even there it felt at times like it was getting bogged down in too much detail and too many characters. Some of them never seemed to have that much bearing on the story.
Since this book was easy to put down, I ended up reading another short book in the interim before coming back to it. Though I persevered I found myself skimming, never a good sign, and wishing I would get to the end. At 551 pages I felt this could have shed around 100 pages without the story losing anything crucial. Again, it could be just me at present so if you like wartime stories, duel timelines and secrets you might enjoy it more than I did. I never enjoyed it as much as I have other books by this author.
I started this story enthusiastically as I have read and enjoyed several of this author’s books. But for some reason I never full engaged with this one. As often happens with duel time line stories one story usually works better than the other. In this case it was the war story. But even there it felt at times like it was getting bogged down in too much detail and too many characters. Some of them never seemed to have that much bearing on the story.
Since this book was easy to put down, I ended up reading another short book in the interim before coming back to it. Though I persevered I found myself skimming, never a good sign, and wishing I would get to the end. At 551 pages I felt this could have shed around 100 pages without the story losing anything crucial. Again, it could be just me at present so if you like wartime stories, duel timelines and secrets you might enjoy it more than I did. I never enjoyed it as much as I have other books by this author.
March 28, 2020
Highly recommend this book for a nice easy read.
Absolutely lovely love story mixed with history of the war which I love.
I would have given this book 5 stars but I think it should be about a 4.5.
Going between each chapter of past and present and different characters at times became hard work but towards the end you start to understand and get to grips with everything.
I also didnt find this gripping to the point I had to read it and couldnt put it down.
Its just nice to gave a nice light read. Will be reading more of Rachel Hore in the future.
Absolutely lovely love story mixed with history of the war which I love.
I would have given this book 5 stars but I think it should be about a 4.5.
Going between each chapter of past and present and different characters at times became hard work but towards the end you start to understand and get to grips with everything.
I also didnt find this gripping to the point I had to read it and couldnt put it down.
Its just nice to gave a nice light read. Will be reading more of Rachel Hore in the future.
June 9, 2018
Really interesting audiobook that I thoroughly enjoyed.
October 23, 2019
Novel set in ITALY and NORFOLK - a delicious mix of everything you need in a good book!
Briony Wood, gentle academic historian, makes an ill-advised appearance on sexist Jolyon Gunn’s late-night chat show and this leads to an horrific twitter troll attack which leaves Briony very shaken up. To aid her recovery she escapes to Tuana in Italy with a group of friends where she becomes intrigued by the wartime story of a ruined villa nearby. What makes it even more fascinating is that Briony discovers that the Villa Theresa is where her grandfather was stationed as a soldier in 1943. When a local woman hands Briony a package of letters and a remnant of some film footage the story, involving the wartime romance between English woman, Sarah Bailey, and young German, Paul Hartmann, becomes irresistible to Briony. Research into the letters takes Briony to Norfolk and the pre-war story of Sarah and Paul, exposing secrets so powerful and damaging that they can still affect the present.
Last Letter Home is a multi-layered novel that offers a skilful blend of present and past narrative as the reader follows first Briony’s research and her own complicated relationships in the present day and then dips back into the past with the wartime story. Both narratives are intriguing with lots of twists and turns; Last Letter Home keeps the reader turning pages from first to last.
The novel is set largely in Norfolk past and present and in rural Italy in wartime and the present, but it is the wartime account of Paul Hartmann’s experience that is the most powerful. Hore has clearly done a lot of careful research and gives the reader a real insight into the plight of a young German who has adopted England as his country and desperately wants to fight the Nazis who were responsible for his father’s death. Hartmann meets suspicion, hatred and prejudice at every turn and it has to be said that the English don’t come out of it looking too good.
Last Letter Home is crafted with great skill. Hore has been a Sunday Times bestseller and it is easy to see why. The plotting is tight and gripping, the characters multi-faceted and engaging and the writing is sheer delight including wonderful imagery when Hore is describing both Norfolk and Italian countryside. The novel is a delicious mix of everything you need in a good book – great story, bit of romance, well-researched historical elements, some new insights and wonderful prose. Perfect.
Briony Wood, gentle academic historian, makes an ill-advised appearance on sexist Jolyon Gunn’s late-night chat show and this leads to an horrific twitter troll attack which leaves Briony very shaken up. To aid her recovery she escapes to Tuana in Italy with a group of friends where she becomes intrigued by the wartime story of a ruined villa nearby. What makes it even more fascinating is that Briony discovers that the Villa Theresa is where her grandfather was stationed as a soldier in 1943. When a local woman hands Briony a package of letters and a remnant of some film footage the story, involving the wartime romance between English woman, Sarah Bailey, and young German, Paul Hartmann, becomes irresistible to Briony. Research into the letters takes Briony to Norfolk and the pre-war story of Sarah and Paul, exposing secrets so powerful and damaging that they can still affect the present.
Last Letter Home is a multi-layered novel that offers a skilful blend of present and past narrative as the reader follows first Briony’s research and her own complicated relationships in the present day and then dips back into the past with the wartime story. Both narratives are intriguing with lots of twists and turns; Last Letter Home keeps the reader turning pages from first to last.
The novel is set largely in Norfolk past and present and in rural Italy in wartime and the present, but it is the wartime account of Paul Hartmann’s experience that is the most powerful. Hore has clearly done a lot of careful research and gives the reader a real insight into the plight of a young German who has adopted England as his country and desperately wants to fight the Nazis who were responsible for his father’s death. Hartmann meets suspicion, hatred and prejudice at every turn and it has to be said that the English don’t come out of it looking too good.
Last Letter Home is crafted with great skill. Hore has been a Sunday Times bestseller and it is easy to see why. The plotting is tight and gripping, the characters multi-faceted and engaging and the writing is sheer delight including wonderful imagery when Hore is describing both Norfolk and Italian countryside. The novel is a delicious mix of everything you need in a good book – great story, bit of romance, well-researched historical elements, some new insights and wonderful prose. Perfect.
August 10, 2018
This type of novel is just my cup of tea: a large slice of WWII history, an intriguing mystery and some family history, marvellous! But I must admit I got a little confused by the numerous characters spanning three generations - confusion probably made greater by the fact I listened to the audiobook. Nevertheless, the narrator skilfully negotiated the wide variety of accents, and it was a fascinating story which I enjoyed very much.
March 21, 2018
I've been a big fan of Rachel Hore's work ever since I stumbled across her first book The Dream House in my local library many years ago, since then I have read and loved everything she has written. She has a powerful way of blending the past with the present and I love how historical fiction but some elements of fact are present always have such an intriguing dominating role to play in the overall plot and themes of the story. In Last Letter Home, Rachel has once again written a story that within a few pages will have you lost in the world of the characters as someone in the present attempts to uncover mysteries from the past.
This character being Briony Wood, a historian who lecturers at a university but also engages in research. Briony has written a book about the ATS, The Women's Infantry Service, during World War Two. She appears on a TV programme to promote her book but this leads to disaster. Both real life and online trolling ensue and suffice to say Briony is not in a very good place when we are first introduced to her. She feels unstable as if her life is falling apart with no way for her to climb out of the black hole that has been created for her. She feels she has already struggled all her life and now with this set back her confidence and self belief has taken such a huge knock. Family issues that have swept under the carpet also play a part in Briony's state of mind. Talking to a councillor does help some what but what she really needs is something to take her mind off everything, something she can get her teeth stuck into to keep the demons at bay.
Several months later Briony is on holiday in Tuana, Italy with her best friend Aruna and Aruna's boyfriend Luke. Briony feels like a spare part but maybe the peace and relaxation is what she needs to overcome her recent traumas. As she explorers on her own she stumbles across an abandoned villa where it has been left to return to the wilderness. Her interest is sparked as her grandfather was stationed there during WW2. When Mariella the maid of the villa where they are all staying gives Briony a projector with film reels alongside a bundle of letters so sets in motion a journey of discovery. One of the men in the film is recognisable to her. That side of the family she believed to have been lost to her forever so when she sees a tentative connection surely it would be foolish not to investigate further? This will be an incredible journey for her, one in which Briony discovers so much about herself but also her past family history.
I sensed Briony needed this quest/challenge partly because history was her passion but also it was a chance to satisfy some unresolved family issues and questions. She needed this task to keep her on the straight and narrow to put the feelings of discomfort around the trolling at bay. So many questions draw her even further back in time. As she begins to read through the letters written by Sarah to a Paul Hartmann, the reader is taken back to the war years and a beautiful love story unfolds. It's not without its difficulties or constraints but it surely was fascinating to read of Sarah and Paul's story.
From then on each chapter focused on Briony in the present as she attempts to untangle the past, and Sarah who resides in Norfolk after returning from India with her mother and sister following the death of her father. Sarah lives in Flint Cottage on the Westbury estate, her family have to acclimatise to being back in England after such a traumatic event befell them. The walled garden of the estate speaks to her, she wants to indulge her passion for nature and flowers and cultivate a garden which will hold special memories for her. It will also take her mind off the absence of her father and how her mother and sister are also dealing with the situation. The descriptions of the estate and the new life Sarah and her family are experiencing were so vivid and quickly became well established in my mind. I felt Sarah was more resourceful and somewhat more with it than her family. She was a woman ahead of her time who would never let prejudice stand in her way especially as the outbreak of war was not so very far away. Forbidden love as outlined by the circumstances of the time was not something that she wanted as an obstacle to her happiness. I warmed to Sarah instantly and the use of the letters throughout the book as Briony read them in the present day really helped bring about connections and understanding between the past and the present.
Paul Hartmann who is gardener at the estate shares a kindred soul with Sarah, both are restless but at the same time feel a sense of duty to one's family. Paul's personal background and situation do have a more significant bearing on the storyline once war was declared on Hitler. Paul seemed so caring, loving and generous as he bonded with Sarah as they worked in the garden. But later, scenes that followed as his circumstances drastically changed were at times hard to read for I felt he should not have had to endure such a thing. As Sarah is afforded new opportunities the guilt begins to creep in that her mother and sister both of whom are very vulnerable will not manage of she is not present. In fact Diane, Sarah's sister, very much surprised me with what unfolded with regards to her but I had sensed she was not always fully present and would be prone to going off the rails if given the chance.
I enjoyed reading of how Sarah and her family coped with the war whilst at the same time being given an insight into Paul and also Ivor who was the son of the estate manager. Some of the scenes on foreign soil were incredibly emotive and only served to reinforce for me just how far reaching and devastating the war was. The fact, thankfully I never experienced such sights or experienced such hardship is one I am grateful for but none the less I think it is testament to the brilliant writing of Rachel Hore that I felt very much taken back to a time and place where life was never easy for those left at home and even more challenging for those men away fighting for their country.
Both strands of the story, Briony in the present and Sarah were equally as strong and as riveting as the other. Sometimes in a dual timeline book I find myself racing through one time period to get back to another but here I found myself very interested in what was ongoing at all times. Briony's story really ramped up a notch when she finds herself staying at a cottage on the Westbury estate so she can continue to work in solitude on her book. For her this was meant to be. There was a story lying there waiting to be told, for connections and truths to emerge and be confirmed and she was in the right place and at the correct time to do so. I felt Briony very much needed this affirmation to move on and find peace, love and acceptance in her life. She wouldn't rest until she had reached the bottom of a mystery that she never knew existed until she discovered that abandoned villa. It was almost like the villa had been calling her.
The overwhelming sense of secrets and things unspoken pervaded throughout the story. Yet it didn't feel like the book was all doom and gloom or that a sense of suffocation dominated. Bravery, loss and endurance are some of the emotions that come to mind when reading of Sarah's story and it made me realise what an incredible woman she truly was. The last quarter of the book given a slight lull in the mid section really brought things together. With each turn of the page more and more revelations came to the fore and at several points I was left gasping out loud as I thought god I should have seen that coming or oh now that makes sense. Simply Last Letter Home is another triumph from Rachel Hore and it has reminded me just why I love historical fiction so much. This is definitely one for the keeper shelf.
This character being Briony Wood, a historian who lecturers at a university but also engages in research. Briony has written a book about the ATS, The Women's Infantry Service, during World War Two. She appears on a TV programme to promote her book but this leads to disaster. Both real life and online trolling ensue and suffice to say Briony is not in a very good place when we are first introduced to her. She feels unstable as if her life is falling apart with no way for her to climb out of the black hole that has been created for her. She feels she has already struggled all her life and now with this set back her confidence and self belief has taken such a huge knock. Family issues that have swept under the carpet also play a part in Briony's state of mind. Talking to a councillor does help some what but what she really needs is something to take her mind off everything, something she can get her teeth stuck into to keep the demons at bay.
Several months later Briony is on holiday in Tuana, Italy with her best friend Aruna and Aruna's boyfriend Luke. Briony feels like a spare part but maybe the peace and relaxation is what she needs to overcome her recent traumas. As she explorers on her own she stumbles across an abandoned villa where it has been left to return to the wilderness. Her interest is sparked as her grandfather was stationed there during WW2. When Mariella the maid of the villa where they are all staying gives Briony a projector with film reels alongside a bundle of letters so sets in motion a journey of discovery. One of the men in the film is recognisable to her. That side of the family she believed to have been lost to her forever so when she sees a tentative connection surely it would be foolish not to investigate further? This will be an incredible journey for her, one in which Briony discovers so much about herself but also her past family history.
I sensed Briony needed this quest/challenge partly because history was her passion but also it was a chance to satisfy some unresolved family issues and questions. She needed this task to keep her on the straight and narrow to put the feelings of discomfort around the trolling at bay. So many questions draw her even further back in time. As she begins to read through the letters written by Sarah to a Paul Hartmann, the reader is taken back to the war years and a beautiful love story unfolds. It's not without its difficulties or constraints but it surely was fascinating to read of Sarah and Paul's story.
From then on each chapter focused on Briony in the present as she attempts to untangle the past, and Sarah who resides in Norfolk after returning from India with her mother and sister following the death of her father. Sarah lives in Flint Cottage on the Westbury estate, her family have to acclimatise to being back in England after such a traumatic event befell them. The walled garden of the estate speaks to her, she wants to indulge her passion for nature and flowers and cultivate a garden which will hold special memories for her. It will also take her mind off the absence of her father and how her mother and sister are also dealing with the situation. The descriptions of the estate and the new life Sarah and her family are experiencing were so vivid and quickly became well established in my mind. I felt Sarah was more resourceful and somewhat more with it than her family. She was a woman ahead of her time who would never let prejudice stand in her way especially as the outbreak of war was not so very far away. Forbidden love as outlined by the circumstances of the time was not something that she wanted as an obstacle to her happiness. I warmed to Sarah instantly and the use of the letters throughout the book as Briony read them in the present day really helped bring about connections and understanding between the past and the present.
Paul Hartmann who is gardener at the estate shares a kindred soul with Sarah, both are restless but at the same time feel a sense of duty to one's family. Paul's personal background and situation do have a more significant bearing on the storyline once war was declared on Hitler. Paul seemed so caring, loving and generous as he bonded with Sarah as they worked in the garden. But later, scenes that followed as his circumstances drastically changed were at times hard to read for I felt he should not have had to endure such a thing. As Sarah is afforded new opportunities the guilt begins to creep in that her mother and sister both of whom are very vulnerable will not manage of she is not present. In fact Diane, Sarah's sister, very much surprised me with what unfolded with regards to her but I had sensed she was not always fully present and would be prone to going off the rails if given the chance.
I enjoyed reading of how Sarah and her family coped with the war whilst at the same time being given an insight into Paul and also Ivor who was the son of the estate manager. Some of the scenes on foreign soil were incredibly emotive and only served to reinforce for me just how far reaching and devastating the war was. The fact, thankfully I never experienced such sights or experienced such hardship is one I am grateful for but none the less I think it is testament to the brilliant writing of Rachel Hore that I felt very much taken back to a time and place where life was never easy for those left at home and even more challenging for those men away fighting for their country.
Both strands of the story, Briony in the present and Sarah were equally as strong and as riveting as the other. Sometimes in a dual timeline book I find myself racing through one time period to get back to another but here I found myself very interested in what was ongoing at all times. Briony's story really ramped up a notch when she finds herself staying at a cottage on the Westbury estate so she can continue to work in solitude on her book. For her this was meant to be. There was a story lying there waiting to be told, for connections and truths to emerge and be confirmed and she was in the right place and at the correct time to do so. I felt Briony very much needed this affirmation to move on and find peace, love and acceptance in her life. She wouldn't rest until she had reached the bottom of a mystery that she never knew existed until she discovered that abandoned villa. It was almost like the villa had been calling her.
The overwhelming sense of secrets and things unspoken pervaded throughout the story. Yet it didn't feel like the book was all doom and gloom or that a sense of suffocation dominated. Bravery, loss and endurance are some of the emotions that come to mind when reading of Sarah's story and it made me realise what an incredible woman she truly was. The last quarter of the book given a slight lull in the mid section really brought things together. With each turn of the page more and more revelations came to the fore and at several points I was left gasping out loud as I thought god I should have seen that coming or oh now that makes sense. Simply Last Letter Home is another triumph from Rachel Hore and it has reminded me just why I love historical fiction so much. This is definitely one for the keeper shelf.
dnf
August 26, 2021Tried, and failed, read the end and felt meh
March 27, 2018
Some of the reviews I’ve seen of this book mention that they prefer the wartime story to the modern thread, but I really don’t agree – I thought they were both equally strong, and the transitions between them quite seamless. I really liked Briony, with her fragility, awkwardness and personal issues, her friendships, her encounters and sometimes challenging relationships, and her drive to find out the story behind the discovered letters.
The wartime story is something a little different – Sarah’s friendship with German-born Paul develops quite beautifully, with the shared interest in gardening, his “outsider” status, the obvious issues as war approaches, and the story focuses both on those left behind and the horrors of warfare on the Italian front. The wartime scenes are exceptionally well done – vivid and more graphic than expected, moving and emotional.
I always enjoy a book with a strong sense of place, and I loved this book’s Norfolk setting and the focus on Westbury Hall and its surroundings – its glorious past, its wartime changes and its modern face, converted into the inevitable luxury apartments but retaining the links with its past. The descriptions are superb – I’d love to stay in the gardener’s cottage, sit with a book and glass of wine in the gorgeous walled garden. The Italian settings too – in wartime and the present day – are plainly well researched and vividly drawn.
The story of secrets and simmering resentments is totally engrossing – this is a substantial book at 560 pages, but it never felt like it as the pages turned easily, drawing you into the wonderful story. I very much enjoyed this one.
The wartime story is something a little different – Sarah’s friendship with German-born Paul develops quite beautifully, with the shared interest in gardening, his “outsider” status, the obvious issues as war approaches, and the story focuses both on those left behind and the horrors of warfare on the Italian front. The wartime scenes are exceptionally well done – vivid and more graphic than expected, moving and emotional.
I always enjoy a book with a strong sense of place, and I loved this book’s Norfolk setting and the focus on Westbury Hall and its surroundings – its glorious past, its wartime changes and its modern face, converted into the inevitable luxury apartments but retaining the links with its past. The descriptions are superb – I’d love to stay in the gardener’s cottage, sit with a book and glass of wine in the gorgeous walled garden. The Italian settings too – in wartime and the present day – are plainly well researched and vividly drawn.
The story of secrets and simmering resentments is totally engrossing – this is a substantial book at 560 pages, but it never felt like it as the pages turned easily, drawing you into the wonderful story. I very much enjoyed this one.
May 18, 2018
LAST LETTER HOME by Rachel Hore is a richly detailed novel with so much heart that it will surely worm its way into your own.
When Briony Andrews inadvertently gets drawn into the history of an Italian villa while on holidays with her friends, it will soon consume her time and change her life in very unexpected ways. Moving from the past during WWII where a group of people from a village called Westbury struggle with the changes that are happening around them, to the present where Briony is determined to piece together the history of her own family in order to reveal the truth, this story will pull you into its world and you won't be able to put it down until you discover its secrets.
My favourite part of this book were the chapters set during the War and I became attached to Sarah and Paul as I tried (in vain) to predict what would happen to them. The settings are wonderfully descriptive, even the more sombre and harsh scenes have their own type of beauty, and I really became invested in their story. I enjoyed the chapters set presently too but I didn't connect with Briony in the same way and found her own entanglements odd at times.
LAST LETTER HOME by Rachel Hore is a tale that will capture your attention and is a perfect fit for historical fiction fans.
When Briony Andrews inadvertently gets drawn into the history of an Italian villa while on holidays with her friends, it will soon consume her time and change her life in very unexpected ways. Moving from the past during WWII where a group of people from a village called Westbury struggle with the changes that are happening around them, to the present where Briony is determined to piece together the history of her own family in order to reveal the truth, this story will pull you into its world and you won't be able to put it down until you discover its secrets.
My favourite part of this book were the chapters set during the War and I became attached to Sarah and Paul as I tried (in vain) to predict what would happen to them. The settings are wonderfully descriptive, even the more sombre and harsh scenes have their own type of beauty, and I really became invested in their story. I enjoyed the chapters set presently too but I didn't connect with Briony in the same way and found her own entanglements odd at times.
LAST LETTER HOME by Rachel Hore is a tale that will capture your attention and is a perfect fit for historical fiction fans.
January 28, 2022
“You’d better keep clear of Westbury. You’re not wanted there, do I make myself clear?”
✮✮✮✮✮
Briony, a young historian, stumbles across a link to the Second World War while visiting Italy on holiday, and to her grandfather. After chatting with some of the locals, she is gifted an old film and some letters that the soldiers left behind in the war. From there she finds herself on a journey into the past, discovering the lives of the grandfather, his love, his friends and his enemies.
This book is incredible. It’s a longer read at approx 550 pages, but it’s definitely worth it! I loved following the journeys of Sarah, Harry, Paul and especially Briony. I think it was thoroughly well-written and it definitely took turns I wasn’t expecting! I really wasn’t expecting Paul’s ending at all!
The characters were so well-portrayed. I loved Paul and Sarah from the beginning, and Ivor is one of those characters you love to hate. The places were described in such detail too, that you could also imagine being there.
I do love a good work of historical fiction, and this was just the right fit for me! I think it’s the greatest love story of all time, and the book just helps you escape!
✮✮✮✮✮
Briony, a young historian, stumbles across a link to the Second World War while visiting Italy on holiday, and to her grandfather. After chatting with some of the locals, she is gifted an old film and some letters that the soldiers left behind in the war. From there she finds herself on a journey into the past, discovering the lives of the grandfather, his love, his friends and his enemies.
This book is incredible. It’s a longer read at approx 550 pages, but it’s definitely worth it! I loved following the journeys of Sarah, Harry, Paul and especially Briony. I think it was thoroughly well-written and it definitely took turns I wasn’t expecting! I really wasn’t expecting Paul’s ending at all!
The characters were so well-portrayed. I loved Paul and Sarah from the beginning, and Ivor is one of those characters you love to hate. The places were described in such detail too, that you could also imagine being there.
I do love a good work of historical fiction, and this was just the right fit for me! I think it’s the greatest love story of all time, and the book just helps you escape!
March 13, 2021
Well to my surprise I finished this last night, a sign of a good story as I stayed awake far too late to do so, reading nearly 200 pages.
Two stories in one, a wartime story and a modern day one that the author has blended perfectly. As the protagonist Briony unravels a delightful story of secrets and bitterness, via letters that have come into her possession, we are transported to both Italy and Norfolk. It was also extremely easy to empathise with the large cast of characters.
Overall then a delightful very readable though complex dual timeline novel. Recommended to anyone wanting to be immersed in a detailed marathon read, which it certainly is at nearly 600 pages.
Two stories in one, a wartime story and a modern day one that the author has blended perfectly. As the protagonist Briony unravels a delightful story of secrets and bitterness, via letters that have come into her possession, we are transported to both Italy and Norfolk. It was also extremely easy to empathise with the large cast of characters.
Overall then a delightful very readable though complex dual timeline novel. Recommended to anyone wanting to be immersed in a detailed marathon read, which it certainly is at nearly 600 pages.
February 10, 2021
As for someone who wished time traveler machines were real to be able to go back to the history, I very much enjoyed reading this book.
A very well written story. Easy to read, the storyline will keep you interested right through the end, words were perfectly selected as they were thoroughly capable of showing the strength of emotions between the characters.
A very well written story. Easy to read, the storyline will keep you interested right through the end, words were perfectly selected as they were thoroughly capable of showing the strength of emotions between the characters.
June 2, 2018
I have read a few of this author's books and enjoyed them and I do love timeslip stories. I had been looking forward to this and it started off well but am sad to say it did nothing for me. I got quite bored and ended up skimming and skipping.
November 23, 2019
An absolute corker of a dual-timeline story! It was a real slow-burner but I don't think the story suffered for it, I thoroughly enjoyed both the past and present aspects and will be looking up other works from this author.
July 27, 2022
I have just discovered Rachel Hore and enjoyed this book. It was good that it was on my Kindle, because when it was bogged down on what happened during the war, I could skip this sections, but it was a good read and kept you guessing on what happened to Paul and Sarah.
May 25, 2019
I really did enjoy this book, for some silly reason I'd discounted it before I'd started it which is probably why it had sat on my bookshelf for the past year untouched.
Young historian Briony discovers some old letters, then whilst on a holiday in Italy she stumbles upon a connection to her family from events that happened in an Italian village during World War II.
On her return to England she delves deeper into the letters belonging to Sarah to find out how she is connected to Sarah and Paul mentioned in them. The chapters flip between Briony in present day and Sarah and Paul in the 1940's which is set in Norfolk. As I was reading the parts set in 1940's Norfolk I found I could really place myself within the village setting and the walled garden on the large estate. It certainly helped draw on some memories I had of visiting the area a few years ago.
Loved all the characters even the not so nice ones!
A good book and for those of you who also do family history research I think you will get additional enjoyment from the story.
Young historian Briony discovers some old letters, then whilst on a holiday in Italy she stumbles upon a connection to her family from events that happened in an Italian village during World War II.
On her return to England she delves deeper into the letters belonging to Sarah to find out how she is connected to Sarah and Paul mentioned in them. The chapters flip between Briony in present day and Sarah and Paul in the 1940's which is set in Norfolk. As I was reading the parts set in 1940's Norfolk I found I could really place myself within the village setting and the walled garden on the large estate. It certainly helped draw on some memories I had of visiting the area a few years ago.
Loved all the characters even the not so nice ones!
A good book and for those of you who also do family history research I think you will get additional enjoyment from the story.
December 18, 2017
'Last Letter Home' is an interesting dual timeline story. In the present day, Briony is given letters that were found after the war, written by a Miss Sarah Bailey. Keen to discover what happened to Sarah and the recipient of her letters, Briony uses her interest in history to uncover the tale.
I definitely had a preference for the wartime timeline and the blossoming relationship between Sarah and Paul, and enjoyed their story. I didn't warm to Briony's character in the present though, and found her story the weaker of the two. Overall, it was an enjoyable read, but I feel I would have been more involved with the story if there had been a few less characters and the book was more condensed.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I definitely had a preference for the wartime timeline and the blossoming relationship between Sarah and Paul, and enjoyed their story. I didn't warm to Briony's character in the present though, and found her story the weaker of the two. Overall, it was an enjoyable read, but I feel I would have been more involved with the story if there had been a few less characters and the book was more condensed.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 16, 2018
This was a lovely story; heartwarming and beautiful. However, it took a long time to read. Not because it was a particularly long novel but because it never gripped me. It was just nice. I suppose it would make a good holiday read but I think the hype around it is misplaced.
So it's a tale of love letters; of war and conflict diluted by the rather boring modern story of Briony (who was a little self centred and annoying). The story of Sarah and Paul however was intriguing and really held me. It was a shame that there wasn't more of that and less of Briony's quest to write a book.
Yet all in all it was probably okay. I may be being somewhat over critical so give it a go and make your own mind up but mine was certainly not blown away by this book.
So it's a tale of love letters; of war and conflict diluted by the rather boring modern story of Briony (who was a little self centred and annoying). The story of Sarah and Paul however was intriguing and really held me. It was a shame that there wasn't more of that and less of Briony's quest to write a book.
Yet all in all it was probably okay. I may be being somewhat over critical so give it a go and make your own mind up but mine was certainly not blown away by this book.
March 30, 2020
1938 nach dem Tod des Vaters kehren Sarah ihr Mutter und Schwester aus Indien nach norfolk zurück. Es ist kalt und ungewöhnlich. Bis sie Freundschaft mit Paul schließt. Dem Gärtner des Nachbar Anwesens
70 Jahre später stößt briony. Während eines Urlaubs auf Filmaufnahmen aus dem zweiten Weltkrieg. Einer der Männer ähnelt verblüffend ihrem Bruder. Könnte es sich um ihren verstorbenen Großvater handeln.
Meinung
Der Einstieg ins Buch fiel mir nicht so leicht, Ich musste erst mit Briony warm werden. Aber die gut ausbalancierte Mischung aus Familiengeschichte, Spannung und Historie. Die vielschichtigen Charaktere und die fesselnde Handlung konnten mich überzeugen. Außerdem habe ich einen Faible für Herrenhäuser, in dieser Geschichte spielen gleich zwei eine große Rolle
Große Leseempfehlung
70 Jahre später stößt briony. Während eines Urlaubs auf Filmaufnahmen aus dem zweiten Weltkrieg. Einer der Männer ähnelt verblüffend ihrem Bruder. Könnte es sich um ihren verstorbenen Großvater handeln.
Meinung
Der Einstieg ins Buch fiel mir nicht so leicht, Ich musste erst mit Briony warm werden. Aber die gut ausbalancierte Mischung aus Familiengeschichte, Spannung und Historie. Die vielschichtigen Charaktere und die fesselnde Handlung konnten mich überzeugen. Außerdem habe ich einen Faible für Herrenhäuser, in dieser Geschichte spielen gleich zwei eine große Rolle
Große Leseempfehlung
October 8, 2025
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
This book is all about the love between a young German, Paul, and an English woman, Sarah during the war years. Despite living in England for several years, Paul is considered an “alien” to the country and treated with prejudice and distrust. Hore captures the nervousness surrounding those that had fled their home with the rise of Naziism and how they were treated by a country that had seemingly welcomed them with open arms, just a few years earlier.
This book is all about the love between a young German, Paul, and an English woman, Sarah during the war years. Despite living in England for several years, Paul is considered an “alien” to the country and treated with prejudice and distrust. Hore captures the nervousness surrounding those that had fled their home with the rise of Naziism and how they were treated by a country that had seemingly welcomed them with open arms, just a few years earlier.
February 24, 2021
A generally ok read although it took me a while to get into it.
I found the coincidences just a bit too unbelievable to make this a good story and without spoiling the book for future readers, I guessed the main plot twist about halfway through.
This is my first Rachel Hore so I am a little disappointed but I would try another one as I quite liked her writing style.
I found the coincidences just a bit too unbelievable to make this a good story and without spoiling the book for future readers, I guessed the main plot twist about halfway through.
This is my first Rachel Hore so I am a little disappointed but I would try another one as I quite liked her writing style.
December 27, 2019
I really enjoyed this mixture of history and mystery, war and love. I found the main characters believable and enjoyed the blend of past and present.
March 20, 2018
Rachel Hore is another author that I've heard many, many good things about but haven't read her books - yet! I was truly excited after being approved to read "Last Letter Home" on NetGalley - I do love a good historical fiction, I do love a dual timeline and I loved this beautiful cover. And so, without further delay, I dived into the fictional world of love, drama and the aftermath of the WW2.
Being on holidays in Italy, historian Briony not only stumbles across a ruined villa in the surrounding area, a villa that has connections to her grandfather, who was stationed there in 1943, but is also being given some film reels and love letters. Reading them, she starts to feel desperate to discover the story of Sarah and Paul, who wrote the letters to each other. She doesn't expect it, but here starts her journey full of secrets and discoveries, truths and lies.
This book was for sure beautifully written. I loved how Rachel Hore has knitted together the life in the pre - war English country, the aftermath of the war, family secrets and tragedies. I admit, it took me some time to get into a book, and there was no particular reason for it, it was just one of the things. It was a little confusing for me also, what with the sudden change in setting and the different tone which seemed as two different stories.
It was a great escapism that slowly unfolded as Briony started to piece together the story behind the letters and their writers. While mostly it was fast paced, there were moments that it dragged on a little for me and was losing the temperature. It also took me some time to warm to the characters and to actually make out who is who and how they are all related as we were presented with a varied, colourful cast of characters. Briony was really well fleshed out but my problem here was that I just simply couldn't completely warm to her - she was reserved and I had a feeling I just can't get into her head. I think that the wartime subplot, and the whole secret behind the letters, the relationship between Paul and Sarah were the better part of this book, I really do love historical fiction and this time it was a tale with a difference and it was really interesting to see all the repercussions and problems because Paul was German.
I really liked the way how the past and present, the WW2 parts and the present days, flowed effortlessly together. The Norfolk and Italy settings were so seamlessly brought to life, as all other parts as well, actually. It also shone through the pages how much time and effort went into research.
"Last Letter Home" was a complex, clever story full of secrets, lies and deception, and the author knows how to build tension. Rachel Hore's writing is very descriptive and very colourful and it's very easy to imagine the things she's writing about. As I've already mentioned it, it was my first book by this author but it was a great story and here starts my adventure with other Ms Hore's novel. Highly recommended!
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
March 20, 2018
This the first book I have read by this author who I know is very highly regarded by many other bloggers I follow. Last Letter Home is just the kind of book I enjoy. As you'll possibly know if you have followed my blog for a while, I never can resist a book which involves letters which is why I was drawn to this one and I do love a dual time line story.
Whilst on holiday in Italy, Briony comes across a beautiful but abandoned old villa in the hills above Naples. When asking about it, she discovers that it was used by soldiers during WW2. Her grandfather had been stationed in the area during the war so she is curious to know whether he might have been at the villa. An old film reel seems to suggest that he might have been and when she is given some old letters found at the villa, she becomes determined to find out more about the villa, the letter writer and the recipient.
Last Letter Home is a book that took me back in time to Italy in two ways. First of all, it brought back memories of when I was on holiday last year near Sorrento. I could completely identify with the stifling summer heat that the author writes about so vividly. Secondly though, was the journey back to wartime Italy. I think that the author has captured perfectly the atmosphere not just of Italy at the time but also of Britain before and during the war. In particular, the way that half-German Paul was treated by people in the lead up to the war was well depicted. It seemed harsh to have been so suspicious of a man who had lived in their midst for some time, so I was pleased that Sarah could see him for who he really was. It was sad to read about how he was still mistrusted after the war, even though he had fought for Britain.
The modern part of the story had a very different feel from the historical part of the story. I liked the main character Briony very much and, like her, I can see that I would have become obsessed with uncovering the mystery of the villa, the photos, the old film and the letters, especially if I thought there was a family link to the whole story. The characters she meets as she investigates the letters and the family mystery seemed very realistic especially the older characters' reluctance to talk about experiences which to them were not history, but times they actually lived through.
I loved the sense of mystery and the gradual unfolding of the story. I particularly liked the way the author connected the stories in the past and present. Last Letter Home is an absorbing story about love, family and friendship.
Whilst on holiday in Italy, Briony comes across a beautiful but abandoned old villa in the hills above Naples. When asking about it, she discovers that it was used by soldiers during WW2. Her grandfather had been stationed in the area during the war so she is curious to know whether he might have been at the villa. An old film reel seems to suggest that he might have been and when she is given some old letters found at the villa, she becomes determined to find out more about the villa, the letter writer and the recipient.
Last Letter Home is a book that took me back in time to Italy in two ways. First of all, it brought back memories of when I was on holiday last year near Sorrento. I could completely identify with the stifling summer heat that the author writes about so vividly. Secondly though, was the journey back to wartime Italy. I think that the author has captured perfectly the atmosphere not just of Italy at the time but also of Britain before and during the war. In particular, the way that half-German Paul was treated by people in the lead up to the war was well depicted. It seemed harsh to have been so suspicious of a man who had lived in their midst for some time, so I was pleased that Sarah could see him for who he really was. It was sad to read about how he was still mistrusted after the war, even though he had fought for Britain.
The modern part of the story had a very different feel from the historical part of the story. I liked the main character Briony very much and, like her, I can see that I would have become obsessed with uncovering the mystery of the villa, the photos, the old film and the letters, especially if I thought there was a family link to the whole story. The characters she meets as she investigates the letters and the family mystery seemed very realistic especially the older characters' reluctance to talk about experiences which to them were not history, but times they actually lived through.
I loved the sense of mystery and the gradual unfolding of the story. I particularly liked the way the author connected the stories in the past and present. Last Letter Home is an absorbing story about love, family and friendship.
March 23, 2025
Ik had verwacht dat dit gewoon een simpel feel good boek zou zijn. Maar er zat toch meer achter. Het trok me sws aan dat het ook gedeeltelijk gaat over de 2e wereld oorlog. Ik moest even wennen, maar ik vond het uiteindelijk erg leuk. Je wil er achterkomen wat er is gebeurd en hoe het afloopt en dat houdt het ook spannend. Het einde had nog een kleine plotwist wat ik niet direct aan had zien komen. Briony is een kleindochter van ... , wel benieuwd hoe dat is gegaan met de naamsverandering en de oorspronkelijke persoon.
Wilde eerst 3 sterren geven, maar vind dat toch iets te weinig dus 3,5
Wilde eerst 3 sterren geven, maar vind dat toch iets te weinig dus 3,5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 4, 2018
Really liked this book :)
Read my review as part of the blog tour on my blog, candysbookcase.wordpress.com on 16/03/18.
Read my review as part of the blog tour on my blog, candysbookcase.wordpress.com on 16/03/18.
July 30, 2023
Mooie historische past present verhaal. Het leest heel vlot. In het begin eventjes wennen aan de vele personages. Een aanrader!
February 2, 2025
So boring, isn’t really a plot to it.
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