September 1919: Twenty-year-old Tristan Sadler takes a train from London to Norwich to deliver a clutch of letters to Marian Bancroft. Tristan fought alongside Marian's brother Will during the Great War. They trained together. They fought together. But in 1917, Will laid down his guns on the battlefield and declared himself a conscientious objector, an act which has brought shame and dishonour on the Bancroft family. The letters, however, are not the real reason for Tristan's visit. He holds a secret deep within him. One that he is desperate to unburden himself of to Marian, if he can only find the courage. Whatever happens, this meeting will change his life - forever.
This is the story of Tristan Sadler, a young boy who enlists in the army to fight against Germans by providing false age. Tristan is loathed by all and is as good as dead for the family. The reason, he is homosexual.
Author has handled the subject of homosexuality in this book. Mind you that although the book was published in 2012, the story takes place between 1911 and 1919. Even saying the word was a taboo in those days.
The story is very slow. The tone is gloomy. But you want to keep rea...