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World War I Trilogy #1
Some Other War
Jack and Alice are twins. When war breaks out in 1914 Jack joins the army and Alice becomes a nurse. This is an evocative and dramatic story of war, love and pacifism.
240 pages, Paperback
First published October 10, 2002
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47 people want to read
About the author
Linda Newbery
86 books54 followersLinda Newbery's latest novel for adults is THE ONE TRUE THING. She has published widely for readers of all ages, and is a Costa Prize category winner with SET IN STONE, a young adult Victorian mystery. She has twice been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal, with THE SHELL HOUSE and SISTERLAND.
With friends Adele Geras and Celia Rees, Linda hosts the literary blog WRITERS REVIEW, which features reviews, recommendations, interviews with authors and insights from booksellers.
Linda is an active campaigner on animal and environmental issues and has published a guide to compassionate living: THIS BOOK IS CRUELTY FREE - ANIMALS AND US.
She lives in rural Oxfordshire.
With friends Adele Geras and Celia Rees, Linda hosts the literary blog WRITERS REVIEW, which features reviews, recommendations, interviews with authors and insights from booksellers.
Linda is an active campaigner on animal and environmental issues and has published a guide to compassionate living: THIS BOOK IS CRUELTY FREE - ANIMALS AND US.
She lives in rural Oxfordshire.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 10, 2015
3.5 stars
This World War I novel was reissued last year -- no doubt to coincide with the centenary of the beginning of the war. It was given a much more appealing book cover, too. One thing about historical novels is that they really don't "date" themselves like realistic fiction . . . but an unappealing, old-fashioned book cover is fatal! The book is really balanced between male and female characters, and the new cover reflects that.
There are actually three brother-and-sister pairs in the book: twins Jack and Alice Smallwood, Philip and Madeleine Morland, and Edward and Lorna Sidgwick. One of the themes of the book is the idea of the war as a leveller -- not only for traditional sex roles, but also in terms of blurring the boundaries of the rigid class system. At the beginning of the novel, Jack and Alice both work in "service" for the Morland family; Jack in the stables, and Alice as a maid. Although they have been well-educated, their father's early death has altered their financial status -- and thus they have fallen in terms of class. The war changes their status again, and affords them opportunities they wouldn't have otherwise had. Alice becomes a nurse, while Jack becomes a soldier who distinguishes himself in service. The story is told primarily through Jack's and Alice's experiences, and the other characters are in relation to this pair. The Morlands, landed gentry, are the least fleshed out characters. Philip Morland is an early nemesis of Jack's, and later becomes Jack's commanding officer. It would be too spoiling to say anything more about that plot development, but it does add some nice tension to the plot. Madeleine Morland, protected by her wealth and position, is least affected by the war. Edward and Lorna Sidgwick are interesting characters, although secondary to Alice and Jack. Their father is a doctor, and they belong firmly to the educated "middle" class. Lorna is a modern woman: university educated, living in London, and a committed Suffragette. When the war begins, Lorna becomes a VAD (Voluntary Aid Detachment) nurse -- and encourages Alice to do the same. Edward is studying History at Cambridge when the war begins, and later becomes an officer in the war. His childhood friendship with Alice becomes romantic during the war years.
The novel covers quite a lot of ground in terms of time and plot development, spanning the period just before the war until 1917. The storyline tends to switch between Alice's and Jack's storyline every few pages -- often without any chapter break, or even much signalling between paragraphs. It is episodic in the way of a brief snapshot -- which can sometimes feel choppy, and doesn't really lend itself to exploring anything in depth. I found this a bit annoying and distancing at the beginning, and less bothersome as I was properly acquainted with all of the characters. Although the author sacrifices some feeling of depth in her storyline, what she does achieve is a more panoramic view of the war: with home-front, battleground and hospital/recovery all being examined, and from different points of view.
This World War I novel was reissued last year -- no doubt to coincide with the centenary of the beginning of the war. It was given a much more appealing book cover, too. One thing about historical novels is that they really don't "date" themselves like realistic fiction . . . but an unappealing, old-fashioned book cover is fatal! The book is really balanced between male and female characters, and the new cover reflects that.
There are actually three brother-and-sister pairs in the book: twins Jack and Alice Smallwood, Philip and Madeleine Morland, and Edward and Lorna Sidgwick. One of the themes of the book is the idea of the war as a leveller -- not only for traditional sex roles, but also in terms of blurring the boundaries of the rigid class system. At the beginning of the novel, Jack and Alice both work in "service" for the Morland family; Jack in the stables, and Alice as a maid. Although they have been well-educated, their father's early death has altered their financial status -- and thus they have fallen in terms of class. The war changes their status again, and affords them opportunities they wouldn't have otherwise had. Alice becomes a nurse, while Jack becomes a soldier who distinguishes himself in service. The story is told primarily through Jack's and Alice's experiences, and the other characters are in relation to this pair. The Morlands, landed gentry, are the least fleshed out characters. Philip Morland is an early nemesis of Jack's, and later becomes Jack's commanding officer. It would be too spoiling to say anything more about that plot development, but it does add some nice tension to the plot. Madeleine Morland, protected by her wealth and position, is least affected by the war. Edward and Lorna Sidgwick are interesting characters, although secondary to Alice and Jack. Their father is a doctor, and they belong firmly to the educated "middle" class. Lorna is a modern woman: university educated, living in London, and a committed Suffragette. When the war begins, Lorna becomes a VAD (Voluntary Aid Detachment) nurse -- and encourages Alice to do the same. Edward is studying History at Cambridge when the war begins, and later becomes an officer in the war. His childhood friendship with Alice becomes romantic during the war years.
The novel covers quite a lot of ground in terms of time and plot development, spanning the period just before the war until 1917. The storyline tends to switch between Alice's and Jack's storyline every few pages -- often without any chapter break, or even much signalling between paragraphs. It is episodic in the way of a brief snapshot -- which can sometimes feel choppy, and doesn't really lend itself to exploring anything in depth. I found this a bit annoying and distancing at the beginning, and less bothersome as I was properly acquainted with all of the characters. Although the author sacrifices some feeling of depth in her storyline, what she does achieve is a more panoramic view of the war: with home-front, battleground and hospital/recovery all being examined, and from different points of view.
November 28, 2022
This book was really educational it was all about the was The book shows how, in 1912, working people were not expected to mix with the wealthy families they worked for; but Alice can't help falling in love with Edward, a student at Cambridge University and the son of a local doctor. When the war starts both Jack and Alice feel that they must offer their services for the war effort, Jack as a soldier who is soon sent to the front line, and Alice as a VAD nurse working first of all in London and then in France.
September 29, 2017
Alice and Jack Smallwood are twins who work in service but their whole world is turned upside down when world war one breaks out.
A really interesting book I am glad I picked up. The book flits between Alice's and Jack's point of view with their different experiences during the war. It also shows how women took different roles and how class divides started to change. I loved the way Newbery covered such a broad canvas about the war. I have read a fair few war books but learned a lot from this one! The only thing I can criticise was that this ended a bit abruptly.
Perfect for young adults upwards. A great book that I couldn't put down.
A really interesting book I am glad I picked up. The book flits between Alice's and Jack's point of view with their different experiences during the war. It also shows how women took different roles and how class divides started to change. I loved the way Newbery covered such a broad canvas about the war. I have read a fair few war books but learned a lot from this one! The only thing I can criticise was that this ended a bit abruptly.
Perfect for young adults upwards. A great book that I couldn't put down.
March 21, 2021
I did enjoy this book but it wasn't amazing. There were moments which were good but most of it was incredibly old fashioned. I know more about WW2 so I found lots of it quite interesting and informative (as it was about WW1) but I would have like a bit more information at the beginning with the politics. I would recommend to anyone who likes historical fiction especially WW1. (11+)
May 20, 2025
I enjoyed this historical fiction. Beautiful characters.
November 5, 2022
Very fascinating book . It gives us an idea of what life must have been like in w1 quite a tricky book but very fascinating
March 12, 2023
This novel follows the perspectives of multiple people in the English countryside during the First World War. There is a hierarchy of societal classes and the highest class is much more fortunate than the other classes and constantly harangues and ridicules the lower classes.
I went into this novel, expecting it to be about the love between Alice and Jack and how it was hard to maintain a long-distance relationship during a war (based on what the blurb said). But I was surprised to find that Jack and Alice are twin siblings and the tragic events towards the end of the novel came as a shock. Once the war begins, the societal classes are put aside and everyone is an equal. The book is a remarkable tribute to the efforts and atmospheres of the war, but does take a while to get into it as the author coerces the reader to form deep opinions regarding the characters to set up the revelations in the denouement. The dramatic pageturner environment begins towards the end of the novel. The parts before it are just austere experiences in the war. The transition between characters’ perspectives is entirely seamless and the book is a good read over all, but is hard to get into.
I went into this novel, expecting it to be about the love between Alice and Jack and how it was hard to maintain a long-distance relationship during a war (based on what the blurb said). But I was surprised to find that Jack and Alice are twin siblings and the tragic events towards the end of the novel came as a shock. Once the war begins, the societal classes are put aside and everyone is an equal. The book is a remarkable tribute to the efforts and atmospheres of the war, but does take a while to get into it as the author coerces the reader to form deep opinions regarding the characters to set up the revelations in the denouement. The dramatic pageturner environment begins towards the end of the novel. The parts before it are just austere experiences in the war. The transition between characters’ perspectives is entirely seamless and the book is a good read over all, but is hard to get into.
July 30, 2016
A very good read, although the ending felt a bit rushed & unfinished. Good interpretation of war, class system & changing roles for women for mature young adult readers and beyond.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews