Fallen Skies (Paperback)

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Review
For some the First World War never ended: for the wives and sweethearts of the men who didn't return; and, especially, the men who did return, damaged beyond repair. This is the story of three who carried the horror of what happened to them into the 'peace' that followed - a deeply disturbing, empathetic, irresistible novel that kept us up all night. (Kirkus UK)

Gregory (The Other Queen, 2008, etc.) leaves Tudor gowns behind for the Jazz Age in this addictive tale, originally published in the United Kingdom in 1993, of two wounded soldiers and the pervasive cost of war.The novel begins with Stephen Winters recalling the Flanders fields of World War I, of the deep mud and bits of bodies underfoot, of the unrelenting terror of gunfire. Since his father's stroke (at the news of favorite son Christopher's death), Stephen has taken over the law practice, and he finds solace only with Coventry, his mute chauffer and wartime aid. Then he sees Lily Valance singing at the theater and is thunderstruck by the luminous joy of her face and voice - she reminds him of girls before the war, before everything was ruined. He courts her with his wealth, but his advances are rejected; Lily is 17 and in love with the theater's musical director, Charlie Smith (though devoted to Lily, he refuses to marry her - a war wound has left him impotent). When Lily's mother dies, Stephen, convinced Lily will cure him of his shell shock, coerces her into wedlock at her most vulnerable. Their honeymoon is a disaster (Stephen is sadistic and controlling), and the marriage continues in this vein when Stephen brings her to live with his mother Muriel, disapproving of the merchant-class theater girl, and his father Rory, upstairs and half-dead. But Lily is bright and resilient, and soon she is singing again professionally (after a fat lip from Stephen). She has Rory up and beginning to speak, and even Muriel begrudgingly admits Lily has an undeniable grace. Their house becomes fashionable with both society mavens and young bohemians - the only one not happy is Stephen, who has become more violent and unpredictable. When they have a little boy, the emotional torment really starts. The only bright spot in Lily's life is Charlie Smith, who vows to save Lily and her son, if only he's able before Stephen destroys them all.This great doorstop of a romantic tragedy illustrates Gregory's winning formula: A young woman triumphs despite a hostile male society. (Kirkus Reviews)

Product Description
Lily wants to forget the war and enjoy the world of the 1920s. When she meets Captain Winters, a hero back from the Front, she's drawn to his wealth and status. In Lily he sees his salvation - from the past, from the nightmares, from the guilt at surviving. But it's a dream that cannot last.

12 Reviews 5 star:  (7) 4 star:  (2) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:  (3) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.1 out of 5 stars (12 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   12 of 12 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Yes, if you like Gregory, you'll love this!, 12 Jan 2008 By  L. Bretherton "dempie" (Tiverton, Devon) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    This review is from: Fallen Skies (Paperback) totally different from her other historical novels, this book has more in common with "The Little House". There is that same pulsing sense of foreboding, in that you know the ending is going to be awful, but you are not sure just how awful it can be. The characters are very well drawn, although you might not sympathise with any of them, because they are all flawed in some way. I did feel the book was overlong, and I got VERY tired of hearing of the menu of every meal that Lily ate, but I have to agree that the final few chapters build to a stupendous climax, and I could NOT put it down, staying in bed to read on and on... Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   22 of 23 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Enthralling, 9 Jun 2002 By A Customer I love Philippa Gregory's books and this one was no exception! The story is set in the early 1920s, when England is just recovering from the Great War, but also when its aftermath is all too evident with the presence of war-wounded and shell-shocked casualties. Lily, a chorus girl shielded from the effects of war by her protective mother, meets Stephen, a war "hero" who is troubled by nightmares of his memories as an officer in the trenches. As the story unfolds, Lily learns to live with the upper-class ways of her new family against all odds, against the backdrop of a dark, sinister secret. Ms Gregory eases the reader into the story by giving an insight into each character's life and personality until, before your know it, you are swept up by the pace of the novel until you cannot bear to put the book down! A truly engrossing read, which makes the reader feel as if she or he can 'see' inside each character's head and the life they are living every moment. Superb! Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   19 of 20 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous!, 9 April 2007 By  V. Burns (Tunbridge Wells, Kent) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    This review is from: Fallen Skies (Paperback) I read this book after my mother lent it to me, and I couldn't put it down. It is possible to feel sympathy for all the characters, even the captain, and my heart almost stopped as I got to the end. It was one of those books that I wanted to finish so badly I was walking down London streets reading it, but a book that I enjoyed so much that I didn't want it to end. It has been my top book of the year so far and I have recommended it to almost everyone! It is a tragedy, but one that is handled with sensitivity and empathy. The reason behind the title is also very powerful. Comment Comment (1) | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review › See all 12 customer reviews...		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 4.0 out of 5 stars Fallen Skies It took me time and a bit of patience to really get into the novel due to the length. As the story progressed, it started to pick up momentum and my curiosity started to grow. Read more Published 16 days ago by P. DATTA 2.0 out of 5 stars Lost interest A few enjoyable moments such as the depication of 1920's London, music halls and the South coast. A predictable plot however, which left me somewhat bored two hundred or so pages... Read more Published 6 months ago by Inkwork 2.0 out of 5 stars sorry to say but disappointed I have read and loved 6 of Phillipa Gregory's books, so I must say I was really disappointed with this book. Read more Published 10 months ago by R.G 2.0 out of 5 stars Not another "The Other Bolyen Girl." Gregory is one of my favorite authors. Her "factual fiction" books of English royalty are well-written, thought-provoking, and undeniably interesting. Read more Published 11 months ago by World Traveller 5.0 out of 5 stars Fallen Skies - Superb! Having read all of Philippa Gregory's "Tudor Court" novels and thoroughly enjoyed them, I was a bit apprehensive about reading a "non-Tudor Court" one. Read more Published 15 months ago by Janie 4.0 out of 5 stars Different to Gregory's usual but still great! The previous reviews I have read of this book have been very mixed and understandably as it is a diversion from Gregory's usual historical novel based on famous characters... Read more Published 16 months ago by Ikula Nappa 5.0 out of 5 stars A really good read After enjoying Philippa Gregory's novels set in the Tudor times I was inquisitive to see how she would depict a very different era. She didn't disappoint.I loved the book. Read more Published 18 months ago by Book Lover 5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant! I would really recommend this book, i couldn't put it down. It is so well written with great characters, good story and plot. I really didn't expect the ending! Published 24 months ago by Goonerette 5.0 out of 5 stars Philippa Gregory again at her best The story is set in the 20s after the First World War. An young singer, Lily, wants to forget the war and seeks to be rich and successful. Read more Published on 4 Nov 2003 by Milena T. Zlatarova Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews › See all 12 customer reviews...

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