The Soldier's Return

When Sam Richardson returns in 1946 from the 'Forgotten War' in Burma to Wigton in Cumbria, he finds the town little changed. But the war has changed him, broadened his horizons but also leaving him with traumatic memories. Meanwhile, in his absence, his wife, Ellen, has gained a sense of independence of her own from her war-time jobs whilst his six-year-old son, Joe, barely remembers him. The bounds of loyalty and love are stretched to breaking point as all three strive to adjust.

I found this book compelling as the story really resonated with me. I personally know several men who have struggled with the memories and effects of events they either saw or experienced in later disputes and unfortunately an unhealthy number of homeless men show more in Britain are veterans. Bragg tells a straight forward tale not only of a family but also a rural community striving to adjust to the realities of post-war Britain; limited life chances, poor housing and sanitation, lack of jobs amid continued rationing but also a shared willingness to knuckle down and help one another. I have read a number books written about returning soldiers from WWI but very few about this particular conflict and I found the unflowery prose captured beautifully the experiences of millions of others in the aftermath of WWII and no doubt other smaller but still devastating conflicts that have followed.
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The first book in a quartet. The book captures the everyday lives of a returned serviceman, his wife and young son in the 1946 post wwii England. A fourth character is the provincial town and its inhabitants. This book superbly captures ordinary people coping in difficult times . The author captures the times and the emotions wonderfully as well as the more then common inability of families to communicate their fears, ambition and desires.

If you like Catherine Cookson, you'll love this!
By sally tarbox on 29 July 2012
Format: Paperback
Telling the story of a World War 2 soldier, home from the horrors of Burma and struggling to pick up his former life: a wife and child who have a close relationship from which he feels excluded; a humdrum job after the excitement and responsibility of war; memories of things he has seen but cannot share.

Despite the heavy subject matter, this book put me in mind of the popular family sagas by Catherine Cookson and others. It offers a snapshot into 1940s life- rations, slum housing, social life etc. The 'trauma', such as it is, is gentle- perhaps because the characters are not very convincingly developed- and has a nice romantic ending.

Somehow show more I expected something a bit more from a life peer and President of National Campaign for the Arts! show less

In 1946 Sam an Englishman returns home from fighting the war in Burma to his wife Ellen and young son Joe. Like many who fought alongside him and lived to come home Sam feels suffocated by life in tiny rural Wigton. When people ask too many painful questions Sam suffers horrendous nightmares of his time in battle. Work is scarce and what there is , is demeaning. His relationship with wife and son is strained and he has difficulties relating to his family. His wife wants her own home with a garden and also yearns for another baby . Then Sam is tempted by a relocation offer by the government to Australia and in the end all this readjusment nearly destroys Sam's family. This was a good read about the struggles, sacrifices and bonds of show more soldiers during the aftermath of war and how homecoming is not always the joyous experience you want it to be. Not a book with dramatic plots or dramas , just small episodes in a life but written with sensitivity and emotion. This would appeal to anyone who enjoys Pat Barkers war novels. show less

Beautifully written tale of Sam, returning from fighting in the 'Forgotten War' in Burma, to his wife, Ellen, and son, Joe.

Not what I expected from a Melvyn Bragg at all! Enjoyable though.

Worth 3½ - if halves were an option!

Well crafted story of a World War II soldier's return and readjustment to civilian life