Six months after her husband's sudden death, Leonora Galloway sets off for a holiday in Paris with her daughter Penelope. At last the time has come when secrets can be shared and explanations begin... Their journey starts with an unscheduled stop at the imposing Thiepval Memorial to the dead of the Battle of the Somme near Amiens. Amongst those commemorated is Leonora's father. The date of his death is recorded as 30th April, 1916. But Leonora wasn't born until 14th March 1917. Penelope at once supposes a simple wartime illegitimacy as the clue to her mother's unhappy childhood and the family's sundered connections with her aristocratic heritage, about which she has always known so little. But nothing could have prepared her, or the reader, for the extraordinary story that is about to unfold.
In Pale Battalions
and over 1.5 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more. |
Book Description
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Review
"One of my favourite books of the year...I recomment it to all ages and both sexes"--Sarah Broadhurst, "Today"
"A superbly plotted romantic thriller"--"New York Times"
"A novel of numerous twists and turns and surprises"--"Sunday Telegraph"
"A superbly plotted romantic thriller"--"New York Times"
"A novel of numerous twists and turns and surprises"--"Sunday Telegraph"
Book Description
A riveting bestseller from one of the UK's biggest thriller writers.
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By Phdavies
Format:Paperback
I have only recently discovered Robert Goddard having picked up a copy of Never Go Back on offer. Deciding to read his earlier work, I have found him to be an author of remarkably eloquent and intelligent vocabulary, written in manner that does not betray the use of a thesaurus. In Pale Battalions goes beyond the genre of mystery or thriller and can only be described as pure English Literature. If you're looking for a refreshing and stimulating story, the kind that you'll think about when many other reads are forgotten about, then choose this before you look at the latest 'Man Booker' winner.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By Helly77
Format:Paperback
Well, I finally finished it, and may I just say how much I thoroughly enjoyed it. There were so many twists and turns I didn't think I would be able to keep up, but I did, and just when I thought I had the next one sussed out, bang!, another unexpected twist.
I would never have thought twice about reading this book before, (it was the book of the month in a reading group I am a member of) but now I think I may go and buy another Robert Goddard. It may be possible that this book has made a Robert Goddard addict out of me!
The story was so well constructed, beautifully written, and highly involving with the use of the many different 1st person narratives, the characters were engrossing, loathsome and pitiful. i felt as though I was truly a part of teh unfolding story. I finished it in just 4 sittings.
It was highly reminiscent of an Agatha Christie, and can imagine sitting enthralled watching a dramatisation of it.
Hope everyone enjoys it as much as me!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Book Maven
Format:Paperback
I love Goddard's books, but this one had me at a loss.
As an earlier reviewer said, the story is crafted like a Russian doll, a narrative within a narrative within a narrative. I found this confusing as this made the narrative shunt back and forth, presenting alternative versions of events and leaving the reader interested but uninvolved.
Unlike Goddard's later novels this one does not present one with believable characters. It is as if one reads a sheaf of gossip columns, accounts of people one does not know nor care about, who are described as being involved in all sorts of murder and mayhem.
Goddard is trying to explore morally ambivalent choices and the personal and historic circumstances that can force people to make them. This is a philosophically interesting issue but as a plot it fails because both choices and characters are perceived as idiosyncratic and largely irrelevant. Do we really care about the tedious sexual obsessions of overgrown public schoolboys that elicit neither sympathy nor interest?
However the book has its enjoyable bits. Descriptions of the country house are evocative and fresh, as are the descriptions of the social manners and divisions of WW1-era England. One gets a strong and nostalgic picture of a lost world at the exact time of its disintegration, one that was remarkable despite being stratified and eventually doomed.
As an earlier reviewer said, the story is crafted like a Russian doll, a narrative within a narrative within a narrative. I found this confusing as this made the narrative shunt back and forth, presenting alternative versions of events and leaving the reader interested but uninvolved.
Unlike Goddard's later novels this one does not present one with believable characters. It is as if one reads a sheaf of gossip columns, accounts of people one does not know nor care about, who are described as being involved in all sorts of murder and mayhem.
Goddard is trying to explore morally ambivalent choices and the personal and historic circumstances that can force people to make them. This is a philosophically interesting issue but as a plot it fails because both choices and characters are perceived as idiosyncratic and largely irrelevant. Do we really care about the tedious sexual obsessions of overgrown public schoolboys that elicit neither sympathy nor interest?
However the book has its enjoyable bits. Descriptions of the country house are evocative and fresh, as are the descriptions of the social manners and divisions of WW1-era England. One gets a strong and nostalgic picture of a lost world at the exact time of its disintegration, one that was remarkable despite being stratified and eventually doomed.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 35 reviews
4.4 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
plain boring
There's just one word for this book - boring. I skipped page after page of waffle only to find I was no closer to finding out anything. Read more
Published 1 month ago by BontragerGirl
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bruno
Delivered on time in good condition. I would recommend this produce. I will be using this sellar again to purchase other products Well worth reading
Published 3 months ago by Bruno
5.0 out of 5 stars
Evocative, engrossing and one of Goddard's finest books.
Second novels are not always easy for authors, especially if their debut novel is a huge success, as 'Past Caring' was for Robert Goddard. Read more
Published 4 months ago by richard Brown
3.0 out of 5 stars
not an easy book to read
Not an approach I've seen before, with the vast majority of the book written as recollections - even though the recollections are then told as in real time. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Aberter
5.0 out of 5 stars
in pale battalions
a great read. trying to get more of robert goddards books on my wish list so i can read more
Published 6 months ago by Mrs T
2.0 out of 5 stars
In Pale Battalions
This is the first of several Goddard books I have read that I have had to force myself to complete. The story challenged credulity as did the characters. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Ludder
5.0 out of 5 stars
OTHERS PALE IN COMPARISON
When it comes to the writing of Robert Goddard I am an unabashed fan. Each and every one of his books that I have read is better than the last. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Red Rock Bookworm
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Mystery Full of Twists, Turns and Suprises
In Pale Battalions was recommended to me as I enjoy reading historical/genealogical novels. It was brilliant! Read more
Published 12 months ago by Julia
5.0 out of 5 stars
the pale battalions
a jolly good read as I have come to expect from Goddard. The characters were interesting, and the mystery lasted until almost the last page, but I did guess earlier. Read more
Published 14 months ago by david
4.0 out of 5 stars
Engrossing and thought provoking, a powerful story
I am a Robert Goddard fan and enjoyed this book. The plot has many twists and surprises, being a story of love, revenge, war and murder. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Mrs. S. A. Blane
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
