Monday, July 25, 2011

'March to the sound of the guns'

I have just finished reading this most extraordinary novel, written by Ray Grover, former head of New Zealand's National Archives.




Grover has brought together the results of 20 years of research from war diaries and other personal accounts to create a remarkable novel which is a story of New Zealanders at war 1914-1918. Grover paints a picture of ordinary New Zealanders at war, one that lacks nothing from the perspectives of either historicity nor readability. Grover demonstrates an understanding of the nature of the conflict that would do Paddy Griffith and John Terraine proud. Yet he has also written a very good novel that has a fascinating and unusual structure and is very readable.

Published by Longacre Press in 2008, perhaps the most telling comment might be:

‘…it staggered me … I can think of no other novel that captures individual New Zealanders in war as skilfully.’
Christopher Pugsley, Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst
Author of Gallipoli: the New Zealand Story

This is highly recommended.

War of the Austrian Succession scenario ..

Adrian and I took the afternoon to play a War of the Austrian Succession game, using his 15mm armies and scenery...   it's too gorgeous ...