John Witsey asked Helen Simonson:

I have just read The Summer Before the War, attracted by the title & subject matter as I have a fetish for the period the book is set in. One of my favourite novels is Ford Madox Ford's Parade's End & I couldn't help but notice a number of parallels: Rye, period of setting, intelligent daughter of professor left in perilous pecuniary circumstances by his death, etc. Was this novel an influence for yours?

Helen Simonson Hi John. Thanks for asking. I have not read Parade's End but I'm going to order it now. I tend to read non-fiction and memoirs about the subject of my book but not novels - an added protection against unconsciously borrowing. I'm not surprised at the parallels since FMF lived in my area of Sussex at the time. Interestingly his name was Ford Herman Hueffer (he was German) so he deliberately changed his name at the start of the war. And he was so well-connected he was allowed to continue to visit Sussex where other 'aliens' were forbidden within 15 miles of the coast. There were different standards for different classes!! Thanks for the question and of reminding me to read this classic.

flag