In Memoriam: THE TOP FIVE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
£12.30£14.20 (-13%)
WINNER OF THE WATERSTONES DEBUT FICTION PRIZE 2023
It was only because Gaunt knew he might die, that he could be so reckless as to kiss him.
‘Assured, affecting and moving. Alice Winn has written a devastating love story between two young men on the Western Front’ MAGGIE O’FARRELL, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF HAMNET
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In 1914, war feels far away to Henry Gaunt and Sidney Ellwood. They’re too young to enlist, and anyway, Gaunt is fighting his own private battle – an all-consuming infatuation with the dreamy, poetic Ellwood – not having a clue that his best friend is in love with him, always has been.
When Gaunt’s mother asks him to enlist in the British army to protect the family from anti-German attacks, he signs up immediately, relieved to escape his overwhelming feelings. But Ellwood and their classmates soon follow him into the horrors of trenches. Though Ellwood and Gaunt find fleeting moments of solace in one another, their friends are dying in front of them, and at any moment they could be next.
An epic tale of the devastating tragedies of war and the forbidden romance that blooms in its grip, In Memoriam is a breathtaking debut.
THE TOP FIVE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, March 2023
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‘One of the best debuts I’ve read in recent years: immersive, rousing, tender and devastating . . . please rush out and buy it’ ELIZABETH DAY
‘BIRDSONG for a new generation’ JOANNA QUINN, AUTHOR OF THE WHALEBONE THEATRE
‘Like looking at a black and white photograph which has been colourised . . . I was completely absorbed, moved, and transported’ CLAIRE FULLER, AUTHOR OF UNSETTLED GROUND
‘When was the last time characters in a novel seemed so real to me, so cherishable, so alive?’ GARTH GREENWELL, AUTHOR OF CLEANNESS and WHAT BELONGS TO YOU
‘A vivid rendering of love and frontline brutality in the first world war . . . In Memoriam is at once epic and intimate, humorous and profound, a vivid rendering of the madness and legacy of the first world war as seen through the lens of a schoolboy love affair’ Observer
‘A tender, affecting debut . . . Winn strikingly evokes the torment and brutality of life of the front’ The Times
‘Propulsive, visceral and heartrending . . . I can’t remember the last time I was this invested in a love story’ Sunday Telegraph
‘A genuine page-turner’ Sunday Times
‘In Memoriam is gripping, tender, immersive and, most of all, completely unforgettable’ i, Fiction Pick of the Month
‘Alice Winn’s devastating debut will smash your heart to smithereens . . . as thousands of young men die in the most horrific of ways, Gaunt and Ellwood attempt to survive the slaughter and keep their love alive’ Daily Mail
‘IN MEMORIAM is the story of a great tragedy, but it is also a moving portrait of young love, and there is often a lightness to the book, even humor. It’s a difficult balancing act, but one that Winn, who is erudite, fast talking and very funny, pulls off’ New York Times
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Additional information
| Publisher | Viking (9 Mar. 2023) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Hardcover | 400 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 0241567823 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0241567821 |
| Dimensions | 14.4 x 3.8 x 21.6 cm |
by Jo
This is just gorgeously done. The author has a brilliant balance of ruthlessness, tearing the story along, and making you feel so much. Especially if you’ve loved something like Madeleine Miller’s Song of Achilles, I’d recommend this!
by Books_by_your_bedside
Me and ‘books of the year’ don’t have a very successful relationship, and so I was slightly wary that this wouldn’t live up to my expectations. But it had become near impossible to not read it, given the amount of attention people were giving it, so I took the chance. And I’m glad I did. Even from the very first page I could see how good it would be, how epic this love story would be.
And I just want to know who gave Alice Winn the right to create a book so gloriously perfect as this one?!
I like to write notes down for my review as I’m reading a book so I don’t forget how it made me feel. But I really struggled here, as it was just so spectacular to read that I couldn’t stop for a moment, and I struggled to get the words down to give it credit. It felt like something I needed to review as a whole, once I’d taken in the entire story.
The depiction of front-line warfare is unlike anything I’ve ever read. Yes, it still shows warfare in terms of the trenches and fighting and death etc, but there’s this…warmth. This warmth that grabs holds of you and won’t let go. You are just taken on this ride and it’s, it’s hard to find the proper word to describe it. It is devastatingly beautiful.
I’m always amazed when an author can write so proficiently about war. I know there’s lots of research that can be done, but this is written with such confidence and clarity that it’s like the story is part of her. You get a lot of literature about World War 2 – which is a good thing – but not much about World War 1, but Alice has shown it’s vital that we don’t forget the horrors of ‘the great war’.
It’s very human. I don’t mean that in terms of the soldiers themselves necessarily, but the boys, as most of them were. It’s easy to forget that these boys are just 17, 18, 19 year olds. Innocent boys, maybe away from home for the first time, confused, scared, and lonely, facing an enemy way bigger than themselves, being asked to do the unthinkable.
For me, this is a love story set during the war, rather than a war story that involves love. Love is the prominent emotion here. the love for your friends, for your family, for your lovers, and for your country.
There are explicit moments, but they don’t feel out of place. They’re written with such tenderness and understanding, but also so much fear at this illicit relationship, during a time where this kind of love carried a live-threatening punishment. And it angers me. This was a time where people were allowed to shoot each other, stab each other, bomb each other. But loving another man, that deserves imprisonment and potentially physical harm. How is that fair?
So, yes, there are scenes of a sexual nature, and so in that sense it is explicit. But it wasn’t the actual nature of the act that felt explicit to me. It’s the raw honesty and love. It’s like an emotional explicitness.
Given the premise, I expected it to be emotional and moving. What I didn’t expect was to be struggling to read it through sobs. It’s simply beautiful. Terrible and terrifying and sad, but just beautiful. And it’s not really something I can fully explain. It’s something one can only feel for themselves. I bizarrely found it quite humerous. I didn’t expect that. But there is a certain amount of humour to get through the hardships. It’s a dark humour that tries to mask their fear. But you’ll find yourself laughing and crying at the same scene.
I have seen the very rare complaint about the lack of female characters, but I wasn’t expecting any. We’re talking about boys from a boys school who go to fight in the trenches in 1914-1918. Women weren’t allowed to fight in those days. and therefore, Alice hasn’t shoe-horned unnecessary female characters in just to hit a quota. Instead she’s given us many male characters – boys and men, English and German – who are all very distinctive, very human, and just fabulous.
It’s hard to believe that this is a debut book. These are the words of an experienced writer who has spent their whole life polishing their craft. If this is what she can do in her debut, we’re all in for a treat with what she writes next.
I just wanted to read it from start to finish without stopping, and yet its so intense that I had to pause just to absorb it all, and I feel it deserves to have each and every word seen and read and appreciated.
A quote on the back of the book by author Claire Fuller says, “it was like looking at a black and white photograph which has been colourised, and suddenly you understand that these shadowy people from the past also dreamed and cried and breathed just as we do now”, and I think that’s the perfect description of the book. She’s created such a visual piece of writing that you can see it and you can feel it, it’s so clear you may as well be in the trenches yourself.
I usually gift family and friends books for their birthday/Christmas and I can say for definite that I’ll be ordering many more copies of this to give to anyone I know. I used to keep all my books, but over the past few years I’ve started given read ones away to friends, family and charity – mainly to make room for the hundreds more I keep ordering. But I can tell you now, this one is going nowhere.
In the words of Mary Poppins, it is “practically perfect in every way”. It will take a lot of beating for my “best book of the year” accolade. I just can’t see any other book coming close.
by Mr. R. Mackinnon
I’m not really a great reader of historical books,have read a few that were fantastic reads,but this book is something else,exceptional read that so draws you into all that is happening,I just couldn’t stop reading it,another part of me didn’t want it end,such an emotional intoxicating read,I think I’d said in another review of a book that it was my favourite read this year,take it back as this definitely was,I’m now so hoping that it is made into a film though most that are never live up to the book,don’t even doubt purchasing this book,you so regret it if you did
by Madonbooks
THIS BOOK! It’s absolutely breathtaking. The writing, the details, the sweeping story. I cared so much about these characters, I longed to be with them when I put the books down begrudgingly.
The story of Gaunt and Ellwood, against the horrific backdrop of WW1 is compelling and beautiful. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that balances the joy of love and the horror of war so well. I will be recommending this forever. What a talent Alice Winn is.
by Taylor Family Account
In Memoriam by Alice Winn is an extraordinary literary masterpiece that transcends the boundaries of time and immerses readers in a poignant love story set amidst the backdrop of World War I. This remarkable novel takes us on a profound journey of love, loss, and the enduring power of human connection.
Winn’s writing shines brightly, illuminating the pages with her evocative prose and capturing the essence of the era with meticulous attention to detail. From the first page, readers are transported to a world ravaged by war, where despair and tragedy lurk at every corner. Yet, amidst the chaos, a glimmer of hope emerges as we witness the blossoming love between two soldiers.
The author’s ability to delve deep into the emotions of her characters is truly remarkable. She presents a heart-rending meditation on the devastating consequences of war, painting a vivid portrait of the psychological toll it takes on individuals. Through her words, Winn skillfully captures the inner struggles, fears, and hopes of the soldiers, making their experiences palpable and relatable.
The central theme of In Memoriam revolves around the power of human connection, and the novel excels in portraying this with unwavering beauty. The bond that develops between the two soldiers is depicted with such sincerity and tenderness that it becomes a beacon of light in the darkness of war. Their love transcends the horrors they face, offering solace and a sanctuary from the brutal realities of the battlefield.
Winn’s characters are multi-dimensional and profoundly real. They come alive on the pages, their voices echoing with authenticity and vulnerability. Each interaction, each conversation, carries weight and significance, leaving a lasting impact on the reader’s heart. The emotional depth of the characters is a testament to the author’s skill in crafting relatable and compelling personalities.
In Memoriam is a book that tugs at the heartstrings, leaving a profound and lasting impression. It is a story that lingers in the mind long after the final page has been turned. Alice Winn’s ability to capture the complexities of love and the human spirit in the face of tragedy is nothing short of remarkable.
In conclusion, In Memoriam: A Novel is a luminous work of art that celebrates the triumph of love over adversity. Alice Winn’s exquisite storytelling and profound exploration of the tragedies of war will captivate readers from beginning to end. This is a book that deserves a place on every literature lover’s shelf, reminding us of the enduring power of connection and the strength of the human spirit.
by Amazon Customer
One of the books that will stay with me forever. Learned, or maybe understood, so much about life in the WW1 trenches and the long term impact on those soldiers. And yet it’s funny too. The best, harshest love story I’ve read in a very long time – perhaps ever.
by martin scott
I’ve rarely, if ever, been so taken with a book. Touching, engrossing, pacy but elegant, stark and beautiful. Hard to put into words – just read it.