Customer Reviews

24 reviews

• Shirley Pearmain

  I read a lot of books and sometimes I pick a book up again and think "I can't remember what it was about" no chance with this book it was so good I couldn't put it down. I hope there is going to be a second book before too long.
  
  
  
  

• FRANK KEIGHTLEY

  A friend bought this book for me for Christmas and I feared that it might be just another World War 1 potboiler. Not a bit of it. It is a well-crafted story woven seamlessly from the letters and family accounts passed down to the author and from his own obviously meticulous researches. A compulsive read that would, in the right hands, translate successfully to the screen.

• Alex Pearce

  I was gifted this book for Christmas and I have to say, it's a rather unique and rewarding story. After getting through the first two chapters I couldn't put it back down. The truth behind this story is fantastic and the author has captured it all so well. It's very descriptive and the author has clearly done well in sharing this family treasure. Well worth a read.

• Barry Thayers

  My partner was given the book as a Christmas present and after finishing the book past it to me saying it was special .I have just this morning finished the book and have to say I agree with her .I have studied history but this book bought the colour to my existing black and white facts.The book conveyed the hardships of the First World War, tempered with the incredible love and hope of the authors family
  This is such a beautiful uplifting story that I would recommend to all

• Neville Howes

  I was literally unable to put this book down and read it from cover to cover in a couple of days. The author manages to paint such a vivid picture of the difficulties of life for both the soldiers fighting in WW1 and those left behind in towns and cities like Bristol whilst interweaving the incredible story of the power of a families love for each other. I usually read high paced fictional books where the author has spent a lot of time researching the background to the plot, in this case the author has combined historical research with the legacy of the letters his family kept to create a really great read. Highly Recommended.

• Ruth Wear

  I loved this book - it made me smile, it made me cry and it made me think ! The reality of the suffering and sacrifices made during the dreadful conflict of World War 1 comes straight out of the pages of "Letters To Doberitz" as you follow the journey of one family. The lyrics of a song which the soldiers of that war used to sing to the tune of a well-known hymn came into my mind - "When this bloody war is over, No more soldiering for me. When I get my civvy clothes on, Oh how happy I will be !"

• Ian Goodman

  I took this book on a trans Atlantic flight and it kept me engrossed throughout. Shortest flight I've ever done. It certainly gets the atmosphere of the period, and being pretty local it's nice to be able to get a feel of what it would have been like. It would have been nice to have an epilogue to let us know how they fared afterwards, but hopefully there'll be a follow up.
  

• Andy Campbell

  I'm not a big book worm but once I got past the first few chapters I was engrossed. Derek has cleverly filled in the gaps between the key facts gathered from his ancestors to create a seamless account of the whole event, year after year. The book rightfully highlights the whole futility of the Great War; the human suffering and injustice that these young lads find themselves face to face with...there but for the grace of God! It's a book which makes you laugh and cry. I hope Derek writes more as he has certainly captured the moment for me in "Letters to Doberitz".

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