Never Such Innocence Again

by Giles Ekins

1914. The clouds of war are gathering across Europe, but life in the Durham village of Ashbrook Stills carries on as it has for generations, the miners and farmers unmindful of the catastrophe that is about to engulf their world and put them all in danger. The Garforth family lies at the epicentre of the upcoming change, as the young men of the village eagerly heed the Call to Arms and rush to enlist. Soon, young Edgar Garforth finds himself fighting for his life on the beaches of Gallipoli, as his brothers also enlist in Kitchener's' Army, ready to do their duty for King and Country. Suffused with pride and anxiety, their family can only hope and pray for their survival. But will any of them make it back home alive?

328 pages, Paperback

Published May 20, 2021

Reviews

[Ron Jeffreys · Rating 4 out of 5]

The madness and horrors of war

Well written describing the lives of normal working class people who became embroiled at home and in foreign lands in the First World War.
Also the short life of one young woman who was so severely traumatised by being raped by a callous and selfish aristocrat of “the upper class” that she took her own life.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing

The book spends too much time building a background to its characters, and they become predictable and it reads like a boring saga. I will not bother with the other books in this series.

[Peter Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read, spoiled by the fact that it did not finish and the follow up is not available.