Today I am introducing a novel laid in the World War I era. This is a war that has often been lost in the shadow of World War II, yet it had a profound effect on the norms of society that were considered inviolate at the time. The horror of trench warfare, the injuries from munitions and gas, and the ruthless tactics of a generation of generals living in the past made this a time many just wanted to forget.
My grandmother served in the Red Cross in that war and her stories of her time there, the ones which she was willing to tell me, have informed this book although it is not a portrayal of her or her family. In fact, it is a timeless tale of a young girl who did not fit into the life into which she was born and what she did about it.