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Book Review
Nov. 8th, 2023 01:03 pmCoventry
by Helen Humphreys
This novel largely takes place in a single night, that of November 14, 1940, when the city of Coventry and it's cathedral were mostly destroyed by the Luftwaffe. It follows three people as they traverse the burning city. Harriet Marsh is a widow of the previous war who begins her evening filling in for an injured neighbor as a firewatcher on the cathedral roof. Jeremy Fisher is a young firewatcher who is relatively new to Coventry. Maeve Fisher, Jeremy's mother, is at the local pub when the bombing begins. Harriet and Jeremy end up walking across the city together as they try to find Maeve. Unable to find her son, Maeve ends up walking out of the city while hoping he is safely sheltering within it.
Coventry is a surprisingly quiet book for one set during a devastating bombing. Harriet, Jeremy, and Maeve encounter many scenes of death and destruction as they make their way, all of which is observed with compassion but without melodrama or sensationalizing. It all adds up to a meaningful examination of the accidents, losses, and connections of war. It's the kind of book that doesn't seem to affect you much until about 10 minutes after you've read the last sentence and closed the covers.
by Helen Humphreys
This novel largely takes place in a single night, that of November 14, 1940, when the city of Coventry and it's cathedral were mostly destroyed by the Luftwaffe. It follows three people as they traverse the burning city. Harriet Marsh is a widow of the previous war who begins her evening filling in for an injured neighbor as a firewatcher on the cathedral roof. Jeremy Fisher is a young firewatcher who is relatively new to Coventry. Maeve Fisher, Jeremy's mother, is at the local pub when the bombing begins. Harriet and Jeremy end up walking across the city together as they try to find Maeve. Unable to find her son, Maeve ends up walking out of the city while hoping he is safely sheltering within it.
Coventry is a surprisingly quiet book for one set during a devastating bombing. Harriet, Jeremy, and Maeve encounter many scenes of death and destruction as they make their way, all of which is observed with compassion but without melodrama or sensationalizing. It all adds up to a meaningful examination of the accidents, losses, and connections of war. It's the kind of book that doesn't seem to affect you much until about 10 minutes after you've read the last sentence and closed the covers.
