The Way Back to Florence
The Way back to Florence is a well-written and exciting first novel set during the Second World War. It is also a book which explores art and the human condition under the pressure of war and enemy occupation. Despite weighing in at a hefty 480 pages, it is a very easy read and never allows the pace to flag. This is a particular achievement as the chapters alternate between the perspectives of a range of central characters which is a difficult feat to pull off successfully.
At the heart of the book lies the troubled marriage between Isabella, an artist living in Florence with her husband Freddie. The trouble being his failure to consummate the relationship, a difficulty soon surpassed by the trauma of war. Freddie is English and returns to join the Royal Air Force as a pilot in bomber command. The book is effective in capturing the horrors of flying Lancasters on bombing runs and reminded me of my father’s experience and the way he talked.
The air war is contrasted with the difficulties of living in a fascist country as it falls under Nazi rule and the compromises people need to make in order to survive particularly Fascist resisters and Jews attempting to avoid capture. It provides a fascinating picture of the psychological pressure that a life of daily fear engenders and the author is as good on the effects of this for the oppressors as for the oppressed. To say more would spoil the enjoyment of the story which is gripping. The characters are well developed, the story line very strong and the book is well researched. The author is a resident of Florence and his love and knowledge of the city shines through. An extremely good read in a well-produced edition from an accomplished author.
A very minor criticism is that on occasion some of the literary flourishes are slightly overegged but, as this is a book that having finished you want to read again, these pale into insignificance. One minor note of constructive criticism: the full title is difficult to read when on-line (Amazon etc). The word ‘Florence’, in red text on a dark background does not show up well at thumbnail size.
