My Dear I Wanted to Tell You

"One of those books that doesn't leave you, and probably never will." --Jacqueline Winspear, New York Times bestselling author of the Maisie Dobbs novels The onrush of World War I irrevocably intertwines the lives of two young couples in Louisa Young's epic tale of love in the midst of chaos. Perfect for readers of Atonement, The Mapping of Love and Death, and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, Young's moving novel of class struggles, star-crossed romance, and the grim reality of the battlefield is a stunning exploration of the devastating consequences of a world enmeshed in total war. At eighteen years old, working-class Riley Purefoy and "posh" Nadine Waveney have promised each other the future, but when war erupts across Europe, everything they hold to be true is thrown into question. Dispatched to the trenches, Riley forges a bond of friendship with his charismatic commanding officer, Peter Locke, as they fight for their survival. Yet it is Locke's wife, Julia, who must cope with her husband's transformation into a distant shadow of the man she once knew. Meanwhile, Nadine and Riley's bonds are tested as well by a terrible injury and the imperfect rehabilitation that follows it, as both couples struggle to weather the storm of war that rages about them. Moving among Ypres, London, and Paris, this emotionally rich and evocative novel is both a powerful exploration of the lasting effects of war on those who fight--and those who don't--and a poignant testament to the enduring power of love.

About the Author :
Louisa Young grew up in London, in the house where Peter Pan was written. She studied modern history at Cambridge. She was for many years a freelance journalist, working mostly for the motorcycle press, Marie Claire, and The Guardian. She lives in London and Italy. The Heroes' Welcome is the second novel in a projected series that began with My Dear I Wanted to Tell You.

Review :
"A month after reading this book it is still on my mind, its characters as clear and their dilemmas still playing themselves out in my mind. I'd thought there was nothing more for fiction to do with the Great War, but Louisa Young has discovered the startlingly modern questions of that great catastrophe." - Linda Grant, author of The Clothes on Their Backs and When I Lived in Modern Times "This novel is a triumph." - Elizabeth Jane Howard, author of the Cazelet Chronicles "One of those books that doesn't leave you, and probably never will. So deep was the place it touched in my heart, that I wanted to keep the book itself close by; as if I could comfort each character and keep them tightly held. Many writers have set out to describe war's dark, lingering shadow, though few have truly succeeded. In this story of lives torn apart by the horror of the Great War, where even the soul struggles to rise amid the detritus of battle, Louisa Young proves herself to be one of those writers, and she has told this story very, very well." - Jacqueline Winspear, author of A Lesson in Secrets "At the heart of My Dear I Wanted To Tell You are an irresistible hero and heroine: the passionate, ambitious, strong-minded Riley and Nadine. How their lives are transformed--literally and figuratively--by World War I makes for a surprisingly suspenseful and tender novel. I was enraptured by these pages. " - Margot Livesey, author of The House on Fortune Street "The finest Great War novel since Susan Hill's Strange Meeting. . . . [Young's] book encompasses themes of shifting perceptions of class; of the lingering, insistent consolation of art; of incorrigible wiliness; of unflinching duty and endurance; of the need to maintain a sense of identity when everything militates against it, and of selfless generosity, optimism and intense passion. Her research is meticulous, sometimes harrowing. The atmosphere she creates is often appalling, always compelling, and her narrative drive is powerful enough to keep you up all night." - Sue Gaisford, Independent (UK) "A moving tale of men and women tested to their limits by World War I. . . . My Dear I Wanted to Tell You exhibits a determined faith in human beings' ability to heal--if not entirely, then at least sufficiently--from the wounds inflicted by war." - Wendy Smith, Washington Post "Every once in a while comes a novel that generates its own success, simply by being loved. Louisa Young's My Dear I Wanted to Tell You inspires the kind of devotion among its readers not seen since David Nicholls' One Day." - The Times (London) "With echoes of The English Patient, Atonement, and a touch of Ford Maddox Ford's The Good Soldier, Louisa Young's adult debut novel is haunting and mesmerizing. . . . The dark and gritty battle scenes contrasted with the pining love letters sent from the front lines of battle blend perfectly together to give an accurate and honest portrayal of life during wartime" - Bronwyn Miller, BookReporter.com "A complex, yet simple, story." - Lydia Pyne, New York Journal of Books "Singular in quality. . . . The plot has a certain Atonement feel to it . . . but the similarities become increasingly irrelevant as Young's characters come into their own and easily shoulder the burden of escorting readers through an unsensationalized and thoughtful story of English class, world war, and that universal constant--love." - Publishers Weekly