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Margo, have you ever read or heard of Vera Britain's "Testament of Youth" published at some point in the late 1920s-early 30s in the UK?

Berengaria wrote: "Margo, have you ever read or heard of Vera Britain's "Testament of Youth" published at some point in the late 1920s-early 30s in the UK?"

Yes, I read it many years ago - heartbreaking, and so tender.

Good. I found an Italian version of it in my LFL but it's HUGE and I'm not sure it would be worth the time and effort to read some 600 pages.

Do you think I'd enjoy it? I'm not a fan of sentimental, heartwarming, etc and the description "tender" puts me off already! I'm interested in reading about that generation, but...600 pages in a foreign language....

Berengaria wrote: "Good. I found an Italian version of it in my LFL but it's HUGE and I'm not sure it would be worth the time and effort to read some 600 pages.

Do you think I'd enjoy it? I'm not a fan of sentiment..."

My memory of it is that the book begins with Vera as a sheltered, upper-middle class, slightly vain, Edwardian bluestocking - very bright, she gets a place at Oxford if I remember rightly. Then the war comes, she volunteers as a nurse, and suffers a slew of bereavements. It's a brutal "growing up" - tragedy, grief, loneliness. When I was young, my favourite part of the book was her love story with Roland Leighton, which she describes with tenderness and restraint (I don't think they even kiss in the book - but she tries on his gloves).

The film a few years ago, with Kit Harington and Alicia Vikander, was good - maybe less of a time investment, if you're not sure...

Thanks!