From Publishers WeeklySet in England during and after WW I, this is the story of three generations: the two Leonoras, mother and child (and their husbands, both handsome, adoring, young army officers), and of Penelope, who at length unravels the twisted skeins of her mother's and grandmother's past to discover herself. In the prologue, the younger Leonora, now a grandmother, takes her daughter Penelope to France to visit the memorial to those killed on the Somme in 1916. Her father, Captain John Hallows is listed there, but, Leonora points out, he died more than a year before her birth. By way of explanation, Leonora relates the story of her childhood as an orphan in the mansion of Meonsgate sp ok in Hampshire, under the tyranny of her greedy, power-hungry step-grandmother. Young Leonora eventually escapes to a happy marriage and finally discovers the truth about her parentsespecially about her mother, who had been described to her as a whorethrough the device of a stranger's tale: not an ancient mariner's, but an old soldier's. But there is more, and Penelope is the one who hears the true storyor is it? Goddard ( Past Caring ) has crafted a marvelously intricate plot, deftly and subtly unveiling, through different narrative voices, the mystery at the core of this intense, shocking tale. 50,000 first printing; $50,000 ad/promo; Literary Guild alternate. Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.From Library JournalIn the best tradition of British storytelling, here murder, deceit, family honor, and intrigue are intricately woven into a compelling drama of decadent British aristocracy set during World War I. Leonora Galloway, who has for 50 years meticulously shunned discussion of her unpleasant childhood at the family ancestral home near Portsmouth, reveals her past to her daughter. In a controlled and measured way, Leonora recounts her tale, which includes discussion of Leonora's own questionable parentage, the details of an unsolved murder that occurred before she was born, her father's desertion from the army, and the ignominious end of a revered family name and a noble house. Enthralling to the final page. Literary Guild Alternate.Thomas L. Kilpatrick, Southern Illinois Univ. at Carbondale Lib.Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. "One of my favourite books of the year...I recomment it to all ages and both sexes"Sarah Broadhurst, Today"A superbly plotted romantic thriller"New York Times"A novel of numerous twists and turns and surprises"Sunday TelegraphFrom the Paperback edition. what is the #1 best selling book of all time In Pale Battalions
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. The "feeling" of the Great War.By Jill MeyerIn 1988, British novelist Robert Goddard published a multi-generational novel called, "In Pale Battalions". Set in England and the battlefields of France and Picardy during the Great War, Goddard has written an excellent novel that exposes feelings and attitudes of those fighting at the time, and how their lives and sacrifices trickled down to affect future generations, as well as the madness and the lies and deceptions resulting from certain mad acts. It's now almost 30 years after publication of the original book, and 2014 is the 100th year anniversary of the beginning of that war. It's a fine time to discover Goddard's novel.We have been deluged so far with books about the Great War, both fiction and non-fiction. While the works of non-fiction tell the best story of the war with facts, many works of fiction tell the "feeling" of the war. The story in "Pale Battalions" is very complicated and is told in the first-person voices of three characters. All these characters interacted - to a degree - between 1904 and 1969, but the story they tell is all a bit compromised because they are somewhat "unreliable narrators". But does having an "unreliable narrator" mean that we - the readers - shouldn't believe what they're saying? I don't think so in this case.Basically, this story is about Leonora Gallaway and her search for the truth of her family. Supposedly conceived 11 months after the death of her father in battle, she was mistreated by her father's family after her mother died in childbirth and she was turned over to their care. Secrets that seemingly began in that secluded country house during the war, actually began a few years earlier. Identities were blurred, murders occurred - both on and off the battlefield - and the revelations which come out years after the war are shocking to the reader."In Pale Battalions" is expertly written by Robert Goddard. While some reviewers have written that the pace is slow, I think most readers interested in the period and the characters will find it quite good.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. An Agatha Christie bodice ripperBy Bart MillsI was drawn to In Pale Battalions because of its World War 1 background and the large number of 5-star reviews on the books site. But I found the books connection with WW1 exiguous, comprising only a few canned scenes in the trenches. I must also dissent from the 5-star majority, finding that the books prime virtue, its complex plot, required characters who were mere automatons clanking through Goddards ingenious mechanism. None of themnot onewas a believable human being. At every turn, they behaved in accordance with the storys clockwork requirements, often contrary to the personalities Goddard assigns to them. It is 1916, and steadfast Leonoras brave husband is fighting in Flanders while she endures the scorn of her wicked benefactor Olivia in a noble ancestral pile in the West of England. An ambiguous American fortune-hunter is a frequent guest of the promiscuous Olivia. The husband is killed in action and a wounded fellow officer is sent to the house to recuperate and become drawn into the inhabitants fiendish plots and implausible secrets (the biggest of which is easily guessable 100 pages before the grand reveal). Clandestine assignations abound in the murky Gothic setting. A murder enquiry brings the police to the house, and quite a few lies are told, some of them with the best intentions. To avoid spoilers, Ill just say the story requires a gallery of other stick-figure characters, many large chunks of exposition disguised as dialogue, several hastily sketched subsidiary locales and seven decades before the knot is finally unraveled. Once you realize youre reading a three-dimensional chess game, not a novel, you might actually enjoy it.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. One of my favorite books; mystery set during WWIBy sb-lynnBrief summary and review, no spoilers.The action in this book primarily takes place in England during WWI, but we go back and forth in time as we slowly learn about all the secrets in this gem of a book.We start off meeting a woman named Lenora, who is on a holiday of sorts to a WWI memorial site with her daughter. The daughter has always felt that her mother has kept many secrets from her, and it appears that now she is finally willing to talk. And secrets she does have.While visiting the memorial, Leonora shows her daughter the dates of her own father John Hallows' death on the battlefield. She then tells her daughter to do the math and that's when we realize that Leonora's father was killed a year before Lenora's birth.We then go back in time as Lenora tells her daughter about her childhood and about her memories growing up in her ancestral home - a place named Meonsgate. Lenora had a hellish upbringing with apparently everyone knowing that her parentage was unknown. We know that Leonora's mother (who was also named Leonora) died when she was very young.Part of the horror of her childhood was that her grandfather, distraught over his son John's death, never really acknowledges the young girl as his won. His second wife Olivia is the epitome of the stereotypical evil-stepmother.There is a lot that happens at Meonsgate, especially when John's friend comes there to honor his last-wish that he look after Leonora. He is an honorable man and he is disheartened and confused by all the secrecy and sadness there. And once there is a murder and an apparent suicide, things really start to come to a head.As I said, the story goes back in forth in time as we are given just pieces of the whole picture and indeed it is not until the very end of the book that we know it all. The book is replete with twists and turns and if you are a mystery buff and a WWI like I am, this should push all your buttons.Robert Goddard is one of my favorite writers and if you haven't read him yet, your'e in for a treat.Highly, highly recommended. Not a fast read, but such a rewarding one.