In Memoriam

Powerful. A look at the destruction of innocence of some public schoolboys in the trenches of the First World War, whilst also dealing with societies then attitude towards homosexuality. This is playing with some really weighty topics, and it does them with an appropriate level of sensitivity whilst not backing away from the brutality of the events of the time. Even as the events of WW1 are fading into history we find a similar trench warfare building on the gates of Europe again at the moment which I think adds to the poignancy of the stories here.

The title refers to a section in the school newspaper, where the fallen old boys of the school are remembered, and as we start our main characters are all still in the school reading about former schoolmates who have gone to war and grasping with the ideas of glory that are still prevalent. As they gradually leave the safety of school and enlist we see the idealism gradually fade to be replaced by horror and lasting psychological trauma, and that descent provides the powerful backdrop to the whole novel.

Poignant, sad and heartfelt, a powerful read.