The Resolution: Barbara’s War
Barbara, recently married to Alex, lives with her paternal grandparents, along with her baby Charlie and her two younger brothers. Concerns that Alex, a rather dashing Spitfire pilot will accept Charlie as his son are soon put to rest. However, Barbara is distraught when Alex is listed as missing and further complications develop when her ex-fiancé, John, Charlie’s biological father, turns up injured in the local home for recovering servicemen. This is the final episode in a series of three books that tell the story of Barbara’s war years. I have not read the first two, but found the third could stand by itself.
There were a few references to past struggles that I could not fully understand, but that did not hinder my enjoyment. The prose is clear and simple, and the dialogue decidedly English in style – suitable for the period. Barbara’s world is fairly gentle and middle class, employing servants, lifestyle etc. Her grandparents are warm, decent and supportive characters, especially her grandfather. The final resolution is satisfying and I enjoyed the nostalgic details of clothing and food for the time setting. The cover design is good and the book well presented.
