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Our Tom
Our Tom is set during the First World War and is the story of Thomas Middleton, a lonely 36-year-old labourer from Derbyshire, though well-respected and a pillar of the community he is lonely and sees the outbreak of war a chance to escape his humdrum life. Upon hearing of the sinking of the Lusitania, decides to enlist not only to get away from his life but to protect his family and the country he loves. What he discovers on his journey is that the welcome world of men, and the strict regime of military life are not everything. Amid this turmoil, he meets a feisty young nurse, Ella, who helps him come to terms with the death of a friend and shows him what love is and what it means to be loved. As romance blossoms, Tom's life merges with the life of this young nurse. As the eve of the third battle for Gaza looms, Tom and Ella are torn apart by the rigid rules and a hidden secret.
276 pages, Paperback
Published January 21, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 24, 2020
I have to admit that I do have personal connections with this novel. The main character, Tom Middleton, would have been my great uncle, yet even my father didn't know him. And the author is my cousin's daughter, so Tom would have been her great great uncle.
I am pleased how well written the book is, so that it will be of interest to people who don't know anything about Tom's family. Also most of the characters and events are fictional, even though Emma has done a very thorough job researching the military history, along with family history. I really enjoyed learning so much about my family and WWI in this form.
I am pleased how well written the book is, so that it will be of interest to people who don't know anything about Tom's family. Also most of the characters and events are fictional, even though Emma has done a very thorough job researching the military history, along with family history. I really enjoyed learning so much about my family and WWI in this form.
November 5, 2022
Honest, gritty, and beautifully written
My grandfather (also from a Derbyshire village) shares the same name as Gaulton's 'Our Tom', and like him, served in WW1. He was injured, but unlike the Tom in this book, he survived.
So I was initially drawn to the book because of the name, and expected it to be an account of one soldier's war experience.
However, Our Tom is so much more: not just accurate historically (actual war records precede many chapters), but a really sharply observed depiction of a Derbyshire village lad who finds himself trying to negotiate the enormous demands of fighting for his country. Like my own grandfather, Tom would have lived most of his pre-war life within just a few miles of his home village, his life revolving around family, work, friends, and neighbours. It's hard to imagine how these young men managed to find their way through everything that the war asked of them, but Gaulton's account demonstrates that it was the same 'village' values and morals - honesty, accountability, loyalty, hard work, and acceptance of one's place - that guided Tom and his companions through the horrors of military service in WW1.
The compassion of friendship is a powerful thread running through this book as the soldiers become a 'family', caring for and supporting each other in numerous ways, from the mundane to the heroic. The love, understanding, and sharing is clear in so many small acts, yet never spoken of, but then these are tough, resilient, outwardly gruff hill folk...
Tom does let his emotions show when he is charmed by a pretty young nurse though, and their growing love is at the centre of this beautiful book as they try to keep in touch despite war-driven separations.
A testament to the courage and resilience of the human spirit, Our Tom is a carefully researched, imaginative, and uplifting book, and I wholeheartedly encourage you to read it.
My grandfather (also from a Derbyshire village) shares the same name as Gaulton's 'Our Tom', and like him, served in WW1. He was injured, but unlike the Tom in this book, he survived.
So I was initially drawn to the book because of the name, and expected it to be an account of one soldier's war experience.
However, Our Tom is so much more: not just accurate historically (actual war records precede many chapters), but a really sharply observed depiction of a Derbyshire village lad who finds himself trying to negotiate the enormous demands of fighting for his country. Like my own grandfather, Tom would have lived most of his pre-war life within just a few miles of his home village, his life revolving around family, work, friends, and neighbours. It's hard to imagine how these young men managed to find their way through everything that the war asked of them, but Gaulton's account demonstrates that it was the same 'village' values and morals - honesty, accountability, loyalty, hard work, and acceptance of one's place - that guided Tom and his companions through the horrors of military service in WW1.
The compassion of friendship is a powerful thread running through this book as the soldiers become a 'family', caring for and supporting each other in numerous ways, from the mundane to the heroic. The love, understanding, and sharing is clear in so many small acts, yet never spoken of, but then these are tough, resilient, outwardly gruff hill folk...
Tom does let his emotions show when he is charmed by a pretty young nurse though, and their growing love is at the centre of this beautiful book as they try to keep in touch despite war-driven separations.
A testament to the courage and resilience of the human spirit, Our Tom is a carefully researched, imaginative, and uplifting book, and I wholeheartedly encourage you to read it.
December 18, 2024
This book was really fascinating and compelling to read! You don’t often see historical fiction featuring WWI set in North Africa/Southwest Asia/the Levant, so it gives a different perspective to most. On top of that, the characters and their stories were intriguing and funny and heartbreaking. If only it could’ve ended differently but, alas, such is life! (Going in knowing nothing, I didn’t expect Tom to actually die until I noticed there were only 25 minutes left)
I got the audiobook through libro.fm and highly recommend that version, which has some background sound effects and a narrator who does the various accents well :)
I got the audiobook through libro.fm and highly recommend that version, which has some background sound effects and a narrator who does the various accents well :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews