On one November night in 1940, the city of Coventry was to be changed forever by the bombs of the German Luftwaffe. The destruction was immense; what wasn’t destroyed by bombs was consumed by the fires that they set, including the city’s immense medieval cathedral. The bombs will also drastically change the lives of three people trapped in the destruction; Harriet, a widow since the first World War, Jeremy, a young firewatcher, and Maeve, Jeremy’s mother.
This was such a stunning book; it’s hard to describe just how much. It’s one of those that highlights the sudden and unexpected connections between people, the reactions of different people to catastrophic events, and somehow comes out recognizing the significance of such horror yet also showing how healing, with space and time, is possible. For some, the world goes back to the way it was, changed but still the same old world, while others’ lives end in a blaze of wanton destruction.
My husband lived in Coventry for a few years, and as a result I too have been there. I’ve seen plenty of documentaries about it, heard the stories of survivors, and even visited the old cathedral. It’s still a bombed out shell; there are still two charred beams that form a cross where the altar once was. I have even spent time thinking about what wonderful medieval architecture was lost due to the bombing; the city as it is now is mostly concrete and ugly and its original character, with which these characters would have been so familiar, is utterly lost. But in this book, none of that is important; it’s all about survival.
I think it was the character of Harriet who touched me the most, probably because her reactions are similar to what mine probably would be in a crisis. She really just wants to get out. She helps people when she sees them, but there’s always a tinge of reluctance to it, because she knows full well that she might die. Death was brought home to her when she lost her husband of just a few weeks in the first World War, so she’s all too aware of what her fate might be. She’s completely unlike Jeremy, who seems virtually unaware that he could die at any moment; he’s too young to realize how fragile life is. And Maeve, of course, is consumed with worry for her son; she’ll happily go back into the flames for him, while Harriet only does so because she knows it’s right.
The entire book really got across the feeling of what it must have been like to live through that night, as horrific as it was, but I couldn’t tear my eyes from the page. It was compelling, breathtaking, and heartbreaking in turns. It’s an evocative depiction of the senselessness of war, while simultaneously demonstrating the strength that individual people have even when they don’t expect it. Coventry is highly recommended.
I am an Amazon Associate. I purchased this book.
I’m pretty sure I read a review of this before, and thought I better add it to my wishlist. Now I really am!
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OH no! I was just about to return this to the library unread. I really don’t think I can now!
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I have never heard of Coventry in connection to what happened there. That cover image is arresting.
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I read this awhile ago and also really loved it. It was the kind of book that you could really sink into, and I fell in love with the characters as well. I am so glad that you loved the book and wrote such a wonderful review on it!
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This is going on my wishlist immediately…your enthusiasm over the book has sold me!
And how cool that you’ve actually been to the place you read about. That hasn’t happened much to me
Me thinks I need to travel more!
Thanks for a great review Meghan and hope all is well with you!
I’ve read other great reviews of this book. I can imagine witnessing the destruction just added to the book for you.
I loved this book when I read it last year. And what’s more, my Gram loved it and she was living in Coventry throughout World War II. She said it was a very accurate representation of what life was like for her. (If you’re interested, you can check out both our reactions to the book <a href="http://age30books.blogspot.com/2009/10/coventry.html")
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I haven’t heard of this one before, but I’m going to keep an eye out for it now. I don’t think I’ve read a book like this set in England. Thanks for drawing it to my attention.
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This is on my list. Glad to hear it’s a wonderful read.
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Another Midlands book to add to the list. It always seems a bit amazing that there aren’t more books about the bombing of Coventry as it was so hard hit, but I suppose it’s not so well known about.
The cathedral sounds fascinating and I think it’s the right decision to have left it as is. I’ve never seen it, but I bet it really brings the full impact of war to you when you’re looking at it.
I loved this book, too. How great that you’ve actually been to Coventry. Must’ve made reading the book a richer experience.
I’ll link to your review on War Through the Generations.
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Glad to hear that you enjoyed this book too. I reviewed Coventry when it first came out and I loved it. I highly recommend this book to everyone. I’ve since read several of Humphreys books and she’s become a Canadian favourite. They are all good and each is a unique story, Wild Dogs, Afterimage, and The Frozen Thames (non fiction). My Coventry review is here if it interests anyone: http://freshinkbooks.blogspot.com/2008/08/love-and-war.html
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