Love can last a lifetime and beyond…
On the eve of the First World War aspiring poet and Lord of the Manor’s heir, Kit Rivers accepts that his duty is to his family and his country. Yet when he falls passionately in love, Kit discovers hard choices must be made when conflict threatens everything he holds dear and shatters his world beyond all recognition.One century later, newly widowed Chloe … recognition.
One century later, newly widowed Chloe Pencarrow exchanges London life for an isolated Cornish house. Haunted by memories, Chloe’s interest in a local war memorial proves a welcome distraction from grief and leads to a fascination with a collection of forgotten poetry. As Chloe’s own story becomes entwined with Kit’s, she finds herself caught in a tangled web of love, loss, and the darkest of secrets…
Shortlisted for the prestigious Winston Graham Historical Fiction Prize 2018, The Letter is a beautiful novel set in England between the First World War and the present day. Perfect for fans of Kate Morton, it is a story of family, forbidden love, and long kept secrets.
***** “One of my books of the year,” Being Anne.
***** “Will break your heart and touch your soul.” Amazon Vine reviewer.
This suspenseful novel is set in Cornwall and reminiscent of Daphne du Maurier and Rosamunde Pilcher. Romantic and moving, it is a tale of loss and love, the devastation of war and a homage to the lives shattered in the trenches and at home.
A #1 bestseller on Amazon UK, The Letter is a vivid novel of heart-break and passion, with characters – and an ending – the reader won’t forget.
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This story is tragic yet beautiful. I kept wanting to step in to make the world right for star-crossed love. I was grateful for the contemporary love story to this book. I originally chose this book to read for the locale, but the story overtook locale and could have taken place in another English village. This is the first book in years that moved me to tears.
Tedious, too much reiteration if how much Chloe loved/ missed Neil and how much Daisy loved Kit. Very little action. Ended up just skimming through to predictable ending.
This is one of the best novels I have read in a long time. I have recommended it to many of my friends. This story spans the present and the WW1 era splendidly. I became rapt up in the stories of Chloe and Matt, as well as Kit and Daisy. The characters are realistic and we’ll developed. The story brought me right into the feelings of those dealing with the tragedies of war, how people dealt with it, and had me wondering how I would deal with the situations that were presented. It was interesting to see how Chloe’s life evolved as she learned about the two people from the past.
Intertwined stories of lost loves. A young grieving widow rents an old rectory in Cornwall that is near a big country house. Under the attic floorboards she finds a diary from 1914-16, which explains a stained glass window in the church and a carving on the back of a pew. The book goes back and forth between the current-day widow’s difficult adjustment process and the diarist’s secret engagement to the son of the manor house during WWI. The son was supposedly missing in action and never found, and his fiance spent the rest of her life looking for him. What is cool is that the author was inspired to write the story after one of her own great aunts did the very same thing: devoted her life to looking for a missing fiance. The sacrifices of WWI are made very poignant. The ending is touching.
An amusing bit from the book: ” ‘He wasn’t very good at being romantic. Putting the loo seat down was his idea of romance.’ He laughs. ‘No woman will ever understand just what a big deal that is. It’s actually very romantic!'” (My husband is romantic that way too!). The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is that the widow is too melodramatic about her grief, even two and a half years after her husband’s death. She was a bit tiresome on that account. But -it’s one of my favorite eras in one of my favorite parts of the world, and the story is very engaging.
Wonderful and well-written! Set during the WWI era and present day, the dual timelines intertwine beautifully. Tragedy and loss from one era bring healing and closure to the other as the century-old story comes to light. Highly recommended!
Enjoyed this historical novel that switched between WWI and present time period.
Beautifully written, memorable characters. A tender, poignant love story of the main characters but healing for the teller of the story. Loved it.
This story felt so real for me that I felt the characters were alive. I laughed and I cried. In the end, I was not surprised to find that it was based on real events.
Very informative. Good historical perspective on the impact of WW 1on English villages. Enjoyed the characters.
This book was well done
Moving from the present to World War I, this is a haunting story about two people from different classes who fall in love despite their circumstances and families.
Great read
This is one of the best books I have read.
overwritten
Too slow moving narrative
I do wish I could give this book a ten star rating. I would! This is the most moving book I have read in a long time! I loved it! When I was not reading I was thinking about the characters. I just can not say enough good things about this book and this author. Simply unforgettable!!!
Way too much grief that was often repeated. Current and past didn’t relate but author thought it did . Yes, WW1 was horrid but to keep repeating it over and over wasn’t necessary.
This is a lovely story..I was warmed by the characters and their plight.
Loved the realistic look back to the World War I era. The tragic situations of the characters kept you reading.
One of the most well-written books I’ve read in a while. Excellent descriptions paint a perfect picture of the locations, both physically and emotionally.