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Follies #3
Theatre of War
It is 1942. The theatres of war are North Africa and Italy. All eyes follow the front, but behind the scenes a messier war continues, an improvised game of snatched triumphs, terrible mistakes and terrifying uncertainty.
Cabaret singer by night, spy by day, Richard risks his life to help British servicemen escape occupied France and get back to England.
Rose leads a group of dancers with mixed morals high-kicking to entertain the troops as Hitler's bombers roar in the skies above. Then she is given orders to join the forces in the field, destination unknown.
Meanwhile a phantom pianist, who has lost the love of his life, is following Montys soldiers across the African desert, mocking the enemies guns by playing Beethoven between the lines.
Cabaret singer by night, spy by day, Richard risks his life to help British servicemen escape occupied France and get back to England.
Rose leads a group of dancers with mixed morals high-kicking to entertain the troops as Hitler's bombers roar in the skies above. Then she is given orders to join the forces in the field, destination unknown.
Meanwhile a phantom pianist, who has lost the love of his life, is following Montys soldiers across the African desert, mocking the enemies guns by playing Beethoven between the lines.
480 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 12, 2008
14 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Hilary Green
46 books613 followersHilary Green is a trained actress and spent many years teaching drama. She has always written, producing novels, scripts for the BBC, and short stories, one of which one the Kythira Prize awarded by the Historical Novel Society.
When not writing she gardens, rides horses, walks in the countryside and plays bridge as well as enjoying travel and has been round the world several times. Hilary is married, a grown-up son and two grandchildren.
When not writing she gardens, rides horses, walks in the countryside and plays bridge as well as enjoying travel and has been round the world several times. Hilary is married, a grown-up son and two grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 1, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this once again,for me, a random pick up choice of book.I was very much into the story straight away and I also found it very poignant as well as matter of fact re the main wartime story. The ending has a good outcome for two characters but not so happy for others.
August 23, 2014
Story continues....it's ok...but some parts are boring and that's why it took me so long to finish it...
April 26, 2018
The Follies is such a superb series, & this is possibly the best book of all; entirely absorbing & credible, I feel that I've learned so much about the brave resistance fighters in Italy
October 14, 2019
Brilliant!
May 5, 2013
Excellent writing with a great deal of detail and history about the people who entertained the troupes during ww2. I learned a lot about ENSA - how they entertained workers in factories as well as the troupes overseas. The characters were colourful and based on real life men and women which I had not known whilst reading the book.
August 19, 2015
I did not dislike this book in any which way but I didn't love it either. It was very informative and opened my eyes to a lot regarding the 'entertainers' during wartime but, to be completely honest, it bored me at times. I wish I could give this 3.5 stars but I went with 3 as I felt the .5 was closer to that than 4.
September 28, 2015
I was unfamiliar with this author or this series but she concocted an imaginative look into the British/European/Egyptian WWII entertainers and their supposed activities (tragedies, loves and love lost between what you would expect of "show" couples)!
August 27, 2012
Brilliant Book .. Now onto Book 4 :)
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews