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In Pale Battalions
 
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In Pale Battalions (Paperback)

by Robert Goddard (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
RRP: £7.99
Price: £5.98 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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In Pale Battalions + Past Caring + Painting the Darkness
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Product details

  • Paperback: 400 pages
  • Publisher: Corgi Books; New edition edition (1 Jul 1991)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0552132810
  • ISBN-13: 978-0552132817
  • Product Dimensions: 17.9 x 10.6 x 2.7 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 13,336 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #2 in  Books > Crime, Thrillers & Mystery > Authors, A-Z > G > Goddard, Robert

Product Description

Product Description

Spanning more than 50 years, this is a novel of dark secrets and extraordinary revelations. It starts when Leonora Galloway visits the war grave of her "father" and discovers that he was killed 11 months before she was born. The author's other books include "Into the Blue" and "Past Caring".


From the Back Cover

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.


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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

In Pale Battalions
74% buy the item featured on this page:
In Pale Battalions 4.3 out of 5 stars (15)
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Customer Reviews

15 Reviews
5 star:
 (9)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:
 (3)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.3 out of 5 stars (15 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Seven Veils, 6 April 2000
By A Customer
If what you love about Robert Goddard is his many-layered story-telling, you will go for this in a big way. The focus constantly shifts depending on who is speaking at the time. This technique lends mystery and distance to the narrative.

Full of surprises right up to the last few pages, and I had to read the pages over several times, it was such a shock.

He is a brilliant storyteller, hope there's a new book on the way!

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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful - absolutely un-put-downable!, 18 Feb 2000
By A Customer
Yet another thoroughly readable book from Robert Goddard - I usually enjoy his books and this one was no exception! In fact I read this one in one sitting!. Great story with enough twists to keep you guessing to the end.
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9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Second novel, and perhaps Goddard's weakest, 21 Aug 2005
By Budge Burgess (Kilmarnock, Scotland) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   
Robert Goddard's second novel - his first was "Past Caring" - and it suffers a little from second novel syndrome. As a piece of writing, it is better worked and better crafted than the first, but as a narrative, it is a weaker story. Goddard's first novel had moved effortlessly, back and forth across half a century and more, exploring the impact of history and the way time and times shape our persona and our relationships. "In Pale Battalions" continues in this vein.

The story is recounted by an older woman, taking her daughter to visit the First World War British cemeteries in France and Belgium. She is looking for her father's name, one amongst thousands. As they travel from the scene, mother recounts the tale to daughter, a tale of soldiers recovering from, or failing to recover from, wounds, a tale of loss of face, loss of heritage, loss of name, a tale of a murder - or perhaps a double murder - left unsolved for half a century and more.

It's a neatly set up story, it's a story which has its moments, but it's possibly the weakest of Robert Goddard's novels. Goddard is an exceptionally fine mystery / thriller writer who has established a reputation for weaving his tales across the centuries and creating a solid sense of history and period. But "In Pale Battalions" is just a little too cosy in places. It opens out, like Russian dolls, the mother telling her story, which includes a story told to her by another, which incorporates a confession from another, who had heard from, and so on.

The pace slows a little too much in places, and it is, at times, difficult to retain your sympathy for some of the protagonists. It plays with themes of duty, loyalty, love, and friendship without being really convincing. The history, too, seems to be kept at arm's length - it's never quite as convincing or as intriguing or as atmospheric as in other of Goddard's novels.

A good read, and quite a satisfying one, but a book which is not as strong as other works by Goddard, perhaps because it becomes a tad sentimental in places where it needed to demonstrate greater historical authenticity rather than fictional sentiment. Read it, but then go on to read Goddard's other books - he is a very fine writer.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars In Pale Battalions
Engrossing read which has plenty of twists and turns. Though I think the final twist is perhaps one too many. Interesting characters. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Rich

5.0 out of 5 stars twisty or what
this is my third book of his and will not be the last all i will say is that you get that feeling of who done it scenario and its definitely a late night one this one he has the... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Ms. S. De La Haye

5.0 out of 5 stars Superlative writing
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... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Phdavies

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb - my favourite book of all time
When I was little, I always used to like to re-read Watership Down. My copy of it is almsot falling to pieces. Read more
Published on 1 Oct 2007 by Mortimer

3.0 out of 5 stars Classic Robert Goddard
Six months after her husband's sudden death, Leonora Galloway sets off for a holiday in Paris with her daughter Penelope. Read more
Published on 28 May 2007 by Philippe Horak

4.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Goddard
I have read a number of Robert Goddard's book over the years. I have enjoyed all of them . Some more than others. Read more
Published on 17 Jan 2007 by Dr. Tom Bell

4.0 out of 5 stars Historical fiction meets thriller.
I am surprised that the last two reviewers did not enjoy "In Pale Battalions", especially as the previous 6 reviewers had given it 5 stars. Read more
Published on 20 Jun 2006 by MaryAnne

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing read
This book was recommended to me by a friend and it sounded like it was going to be a really good read, but I was disappointed. Read more
Published on 17 Dec 2005

5.0 out of 5 stars Twistier than a corkscrew
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... Read more
Published on 14 May 2004 by Helly77

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Brilliance...
I must have read this book ten times and still it does not fail to excite me and have me hooked.
The plot lines are strong and believable and yet left with an air of mystery... Read more
Published on 22 Feb 2004 by emmajacko

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