In Memoriam

In Memoriam by Alice Winn is a gripping and heart-shattering love story set against the bleak and brutal backdrop of the First World War. This Winner of the Waterstones Novel of the Year immerses readers in a poignant tale of love, loss, and the harrowing realities of war.

In the summer of 1914, war is merely a distant rumour for Henry Gaunt and Sidney Ellwood, two seventeen-year-old boys studying at a secluded boarding school in the picturesque English countryside. For Gaunt, the threat of war pales in comparison to his internal turmoil—an all-consuming infatuation with his charismatic and poetic best friend, Ellwood. Unbeknownst to Gaunt, Ellwood harbours his own secret: he has always been in love with Gaunt.

As war looms closer, Gaunt’s German mother urges him to enlist in the British army to protect the family from anti-German sentiments. Seizing the opportunity to escape his overwhelming feelings for Ellwood, Gaunt enlists immediately. The horrors of the frontline are swift and unrelenting, but Gaunt finds himself unable to dissuade Ellwood from joining him in the trenches.

On the battlefield, amidst the chaos and carnage, Gaunt and Ellwood find fleeting moments of solace in each other. However, the ever-present shadow of death casts a pall over their love, as friends and comrades fall around them, and they too, must face the constant threat of demise.

In Memoriam is more than just a war novel; it is an epic tale that intertwines the devastation of global conflict with a forbidden romance emerging amidst the devastation. Alice Winn's breathtaking debut delves deep into the human spirit, exploring themes of love, sacrifice, and the relentless pursuit of hope in the face of unimaginable adversity.

This beautifully written and emotionally charged novel captures the pain of a generation lost to war, while tenderly portraying the enduring power of love that flourishes even in the darkest times. In Memoriam is a must-read that will leave an indelible mark on your heart.