An excellent book, set in the closing days of World War 2.
Charlie Bassett, recovering from injuries sustained in a plane crash, receives unexpected (and indeed unwelcome) orders to locate and bring home his former girlfriend Grace, now pregnant and somewhere up near the front lines. Charlie sets off, through France initially, in a car named Kate, and in the company of an eccentric major and his loyal sergeant. As the story progresses, it transpires that not only does Grace not want to be found, but the major and his sergeant are not all they seem and have a mysterious hidden agenda.
Charming, whimsical, sad, outrageously funny in places and with the occasional glimpse of the gruesome viciousness of the war.
Through Charlie’s eyes, Fiddimore gives an alternative glimpse of the closing stages of the war. I had never previously thought about the fact that WW2 (in Europe) did not really end in August 1945, when the main powers stopped bashing each other. Hostilities continued for quite some time after, as various factions slugged it out, settled old scores, scrapped for territories, and the like. I spent quite some time on the internet after I finished the book, following up fascinating items and incidents.
Fiddimore also puts forward the startling assertion that a number of WW2 pilots were women. Impossible, I hear you say – couldn’t be done! Well… maybe. But have a look at the strange case of Dr James (Miranda) Barry. (Click on link). Quite a number of similar cases have come to light over the years and perhaps, as Fiddimore hopes, he will in time be proved correct.
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