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The Walled Garden
A luminous debut novel about love, the trauma of war and the miracle of human resilience, for readers of Anna Hope, Sadie Jones and Elizabeth Jane Howard.
No one survives war unscathed. But even in the darkest days, seeds of hope can grow.
It is 1946 and in the village of Oakbourne the men are home from the war. Their bodies are healing but their psychological wounds run deep. Everyone is scarred - those who fought and those left behind.
Alice Rayne is married to Stephen, heir to crumbling Oakbourne Hall. Once a sweet, gentle man, he has returned a bitter and angry stranger, destroyed by what he has seen and done, tormented by secrets Alice can only guess at.
Lonely and increasingly afraid of the man her husband has become, Alice must try to pick up the pieces of her marriage and save Oakbourne Hall from total collapse. She begins with the walled garden and, as it starts to bear fruit, she finds herself drawn into a new, forbidden love.
Set in the Suffolk countryside as it moves from winter to spring, The Walled Garden is a captivating love story and a timeless, moving exploration of trauma and the miracle of human resilience.
No one survives war unscathed. But even in the darkest days, seeds of hope can grow.
It is 1946 and in the village of Oakbourne the men are home from the war. Their bodies are healing but their psychological wounds run deep. Everyone is scarred - those who fought and those left behind.
Alice Rayne is married to Stephen, heir to crumbling Oakbourne Hall. Once a sweet, gentle man, he has returned a bitter and angry stranger, destroyed by what he has seen and done, tormented by secrets Alice can only guess at.
Lonely and increasingly afraid of the man her husband has become, Alice must try to pick up the pieces of her marriage and save Oakbourne Hall from total collapse. She begins with the walled garden and, as it starts to bear fruit, she finds herself drawn into a new, forbidden love.
Set in the Suffolk countryside as it moves from winter to spring, The Walled Garden is a captivating love story and a timeless, moving exploration of trauma and the miracle of human resilience.
366 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 13, 2023
46 people are currently reading
1115 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews
March 6, 2025
Unfortunately I went in blind firstly the cover is beautiful 😻 but this was not for me great writing style & if you like stories on war this is the book for you!
March 6, 2023
A fantastic, powerful novel about aftermaths, trauma and hope. I'd highly recommend.
December 18, 2022
I so wanted to love this, that cover alone is simply so beautiful. However, I felt a disconnect with this read. Didn't make me want to keep reading, and at times felt laboured. Sure i'll be the odd one out here, but just not for me.
March 25, 2023
With several different narrators, this debut novel was skilfully written. It spoke to the devastation of WWII and how it affected those both at home and at war.
Set in Suffolk in 1946, it showed an England in recovery. Rationing was still in effect. Rebuilding, renewal and social reform were all taking place with many members of each community forever lost.
Each character in this book had secrets. Secrets that were so weighty, so significant, that they felt they could not share them.
The novel spoke to the horrors of war, man's inhumanity to man, the deprivations, the moral dilemmas, the bloodshed, the suffering. Also, it spoke to man's capabilities. Of endurance, of ingenuity, bravery, charity, and kindness.
The main theme of the book was hope. Those with hope, those who dare not hope and those who were completely without hope. The walled garden symbolized rebirth, renewal, and yes... HOPE.
I believe that fans of such authors as Kate Morton, Eve Chase, or Harriet Evans will adore this debut historical novel as much as I did.
Set in Suffolk in 1946, it showed an England in recovery. Rationing was still in effect. Rebuilding, renewal and social reform were all taking place with many members of each community forever lost.
Each character in this book had secrets. Secrets that were so weighty, so significant, that they felt they could not share them.
The novel spoke to the horrors of war, man's inhumanity to man, the deprivations, the moral dilemmas, the bloodshed, the suffering. Also, it spoke to man's capabilities. Of endurance, of ingenuity, bravery, charity, and kindness.
The main theme of the book was hope. Those with hope, those who dare not hope and those who were completely without hope. The walled garden symbolized rebirth, renewal, and yes... HOPE.
I believe that fans of such authors as Kate Morton, Eve Chase, or Harriet Evans will adore this debut historical novel as much as I did.
March 30, 2023
“The Walled Garden” is a beautifully written piece of historical fiction, which is penned by a remarkable debut author, Sarah Hardy. With a gorgeously designed cover as well, this book will grace from inside and out on anyone’s bookshelf.
The story is a heartbreaking tale of survival, grief, guilt and love and features the husbands, sons and fathers who returned from the war to their families, unable to reverse the suffering that now occupies them.
We always remember the brutalities of war with the wounded and dying on the battlefields and often overlook the troubled, mentally changed and physically challenged people who returned from the war. No matter in what capacity they played their role, each one had a harrowing time and had their own story to tell once home. Sir Stephen’s history was so heartbreaking and distressing that I honestly felt for him carrying that burden with him for the rest of his days. The family members found that supporting and tolerating these changed men, was very demanding. This story highlighted their struggles and perseverance. But the beauty of this book was the gentle use of nature and wildlife to rehabilitate mind, body and soul and resurrect the happiness they once appreciated.
Poignant, breathtaking, atmospheric and tender, this book will resonate with a lot of readers who can remember past family members returning themselves from war and current families serving in the armed forces.
#TheWalledGarden - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The story is a heartbreaking tale of survival, grief, guilt and love and features the husbands, sons and fathers who returned from the war to their families, unable to reverse the suffering that now occupies them.
We always remember the brutalities of war with the wounded and dying on the battlefields and often overlook the troubled, mentally changed and physically challenged people who returned from the war. No matter in what capacity they played their role, each one had a harrowing time and had their own story to tell once home. Sir Stephen’s history was so heartbreaking and distressing that I honestly felt for him carrying that burden with him for the rest of his days. The family members found that supporting and tolerating these changed men, was very demanding. This story highlighted their struggles and perseverance. But the beauty of this book was the gentle use of nature and wildlife to rehabilitate mind, body and soul and resurrect the happiness they once appreciated.
Poignant, breathtaking, atmospheric and tender, this book will resonate with a lot of readers who can remember past family members returning themselves from war and current families serving in the armed forces.
#TheWalledGarden - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 12, 2023
This was my first book by this author. I was immediately drawn to the book by the beautiful cover and the book’s description. Based after the war has finished, this story deals with the aftermath, particularly to the men returning from the war and the women who they are returning to.
The book begins well, slowly building the story of the main characters, Alice and Stephen. For me, the storyline took a little while to develop, but once it did, I became hooked into the book, particularly Alice and Stephen’s storylines. We’ve seen so many portrayals of war where the men returning are unable to talk about the horrors they’ve seen, but the author has done a wonderful job in showing us what it was like behind closed doors, not just for the men but for their whole families.
It is a dark and powerful read and is terribly sad at times throughout the book. It does though show us the resilience of people, especially through these war and post-war years. This was a well written storyline which showed the love, strength and courage of all the different characters and I was captivated by their stories. A beautiful, mesmerising read which I would recommend!
The book begins well, slowly building the story of the main characters, Alice and Stephen. For me, the storyline took a little while to develop, but once it did, I became hooked into the book, particularly Alice and Stephen’s storylines. We’ve seen so many portrayals of war where the men returning are unable to talk about the horrors they’ve seen, but the author has done a wonderful job in showing us what it was like behind closed doors, not just for the men but for their whole families.
It is a dark and powerful read and is terribly sad at times throughout the book. It does though show us the resilience of people, especially through these war and post-war years. This was a well written storyline which showed the love, strength and courage of all the different characters and I was captivated by their stories. A beautiful, mesmerising read which I would recommend!
June 13, 2023
It's not you it's me 🙈🤭
A historical fiction story depicting the lives of people in old England who have weathered 2 wars and lived to tell the tale. But the wars have scared each one of them in their own ways. Some have lost the charm of being alive while others are trying to cope with what little they have left.
If you talk about writing, it was very descriptive and novel. The characters had all their distinguishable traits yet each house had a common suffering - war! There are many instances where the book addresses the antagonist's perspective, which often makes us side with the Villains. But, that didn't happen here. I felt almost no attachment to either the protagonist or the antagonist. There were certain traits of garden keeping in the story that reminded me of another book I read. With most of my feelings mellow towards the book, I am still pondering over a question from the book:
What has our generation done to deserve 2 wars?
Which historically speaking is pliable to actual events happening in the story. I would say this book is audience specific and would be enjoyed better by people looking for the themes of #worldwarfiction #postworldwarlife #british
Genre: #historicalfiction #postworldwartwo
Rating: 3/5 ⭐️
A historical fiction story depicting the lives of people in old England who have weathered 2 wars and lived to tell the tale. But the wars have scared each one of them in their own ways. Some have lost the charm of being alive while others are trying to cope with what little they have left.
If you talk about writing, it was very descriptive and novel. The characters had all their distinguishable traits yet each house had a common suffering - war! There are many instances where the book addresses the antagonist's perspective, which often makes us side with the Villains. But, that didn't happen here. I felt almost no attachment to either the protagonist or the antagonist. There were certain traits of garden keeping in the story that reminded me of another book I read. With most of my feelings mellow towards the book, I am still pondering over a question from the book:
What has our generation done to deserve 2 wars?
Which historically speaking is pliable to actual events happening in the story. I would say this book is audience specific and would be enjoyed better by people looking for the themes of #worldwarfiction #postworldwarlife #british
Genre: #historicalfiction #postworldwartwo
Rating: 3/5 ⭐️
July 2, 2024
I hate not loving this book as i love historical fiction.
I was very disconnected to the story and therefore found it hard to care for any of these characters. None of these characters had any sort of chemistry and any time i was supposed to feel tension i didn`t as the writing style wouldn`t leave any space for that. It was at times over-descriptive and i usually like a good description, but not when there is no function for it. The author failed at creating not only a gripping story, but also at an atmosphere fitting to the story.
Having said all of that i feel that it`s important to highlight the few parts that i enjoyed. The conversations on guilt and how to cope with it and move on were very beautiful and i thoroughly enjoyed reading those paragraphs.
The moral of the story:
When in trouble have a child, especially in a marriage.
I was very disconnected to the story and therefore found it hard to care for any of these characters. None of these characters had any sort of chemistry and any time i was supposed to feel tension i didn`t as the writing style wouldn`t leave any space for that. It was at times over-descriptive and i usually like a good description, but not when there is no function for it. The author failed at creating not only a gripping story, but also at an atmosphere fitting to the story.
Having said all of that i feel that it`s important to highlight the few parts that i enjoyed. The conversations on guilt and how to cope with it and move on were very beautiful and i thoroughly enjoyed reading those paragraphs.
The moral of the story:
When in trouble have a child, especially in a marriage.
December 28, 2022
Historical fiction is my favourite genre, this book set in post war Britain should have drawn me right in but although the premise was interesting I couldn’t find myself warming to main characters. The story changed perspectives between different people and I felt this made the characters spread too thin. A more in-depth look at the story from the Reverend Ivens would be a winner.
December 19, 2023
Thank you Netgalley and Manilla Press for this eCopy to review
I really wanted to enjoy this book, but I found it very hard going. I thought there would be much more about the Walled Garden in it. Hardy, explores how taking part in WWII changed the men who went away in the armed forces and the families who stayed at home and how they come to terms living with their injuries and/or actions they carried our during the war. Ultimately, there is a happy ending it just seemed to take an incredibly long time to get anywhere and the rants against the upper classes were a bit much for my liking.
I really wanted to enjoy this book, but I found it very hard going. I thought there would be much more about the Walled Garden in it. Hardy, explores how taking part in WWII changed the men who went away in the armed forces and the families who stayed at home and how they come to terms living with their injuries and/or actions they carried our during the war. Ultimately, there is a happy ending it just seemed to take an incredibly long time to get anywhere and the rants against the upper classes were a bit much for my liking.
February 10, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It has a very slow first half to this book and I did find myself pushing through it but I’m so glad I did.
The last half/quarter when you finally get answers to why things are the way they are, was both heart breaking heart warming.
A really good story!
It has a very slow first half to this book and I did find myself pushing through it but I’m so glad I did.
The last half/quarter when you finally get answers to why things are the way they are, was both heart breaking heart warming.
A really good story!
March 22, 2023
This is a fantastic read, dark and also emotional at times, it show the resilience of people, especially the war generation who were made of legendary stuff, they broke the mood with those generations (WW1 and 2). This was a well written beautiful story which showed strength, the courage of the characters. This is a wonderful read, one I highly recommend
February 28, 2023
A brilliant book. So beautifully written, as if Sarah Hardy was there during those post war times. A story of loss, love, the horrors of war and the ability to cope afterwards. A story that keeps you hooked till the last page!
June 27, 2024
(1 Star) Book review of 'The Walled Garden' by Sarah Hardy:
read with book club
Where do you begin when giving a book just one star? Perhaps I should briefly touch on each of my criticisms, much like how Sarah Hardy initiated numerous topics only to abruptly or entirely abandon them later on.
Firstly, the issue with Jane's son, who seemed to go through a tough time only at the end of the book. It ended as abruptly as it began, merely serving to tie up the storyline with a jarring conclusion. There were several such instances where elements were misplaced within the narrative. Numerous passages were either too briefly mentioned or excessively prolonged. I found myself skimming ahead just to see if the scene was still dragging on. It’s unfortunate, as this novella addresses the aftermath of war within a family and their village—a theme with much potential!
The characters' decisions were nonsensical, making them feel like mere puppets of the author, simply rushing to conclude the book. The motivations behind their actions seemed irrelevant. Where did Alice's love for George Ivens disappear to? As soon as he was gone, her affection for her husband returned? These abrupt shifts made it increasingly difficult to empathize with any of the characters.
The writing style, though easy to read, was tiresome. The monotonous tone made the book seem unwilling to be held in my hands, resonating as a droning voice every time I read the narration.
There of course are many more examples I can give to each of my criticisms that concluded to me giving this book this low of a review. The ones stated above are just the tip of the iceberg...
Unfinished and abandoned topics, poorly placed passages, unbelievable (abrupt) character decisions, monotonous writing style and lack of identification with characters: In summary, my review is overwhelmingly negative, without notable positive aspects, which makes it hard for me to give it any more than one star.
A member of my book club giving this book 4.5 stars left me bewildered. I've tried to view this novella from a different perspective, but to no avail—I just can't see what I'm supposed to see. Once we hold our book club meeting, I'm hoping to be proven wrong.
read with book club
Where do you begin when giving a book just one star? Perhaps I should briefly touch on each of my criticisms, much like how Sarah Hardy initiated numerous topics only to abruptly or entirely abandon them later on.
Firstly, the issue with Jane's son, who seemed to go through a tough time only at the end of the book. It ended as abruptly as it began, merely serving to tie up the storyline with a jarring conclusion. There were several such instances where elements were misplaced within the narrative. Numerous passages were either too briefly mentioned or excessively prolonged. I found myself skimming ahead just to see if the scene was still dragging on. It’s unfortunate, as this novella addresses the aftermath of war within a family and their village—a theme with much potential!
The characters' decisions were nonsensical, making them feel like mere puppets of the author, simply rushing to conclude the book. The motivations behind their actions seemed irrelevant. Where did Alice's love for George Ivens disappear to? As soon as he was gone, her affection for her husband returned? These abrupt shifts made it increasingly difficult to empathize with any of the characters.
The writing style, though easy to read, was tiresome. The monotonous tone made the book seem unwilling to be held in my hands, resonating as a droning voice every time I read the narration.
There of course are many more examples I can give to each of my criticisms that concluded to me giving this book this low of a review. The ones stated above are just the tip of the iceberg...
Unfinished and abandoned topics, poorly placed passages, unbelievable (abrupt) character decisions, monotonous writing style and lack of identification with characters: In summary, my review is overwhelmingly negative, without notable positive aspects, which makes it hard for me to give it any more than one star.
A member of my book club giving this book 4.5 stars left me bewildered. I've tried to view this novella from a different perspective, but to no avail—I just can't see what I'm supposed to see. Once we hold our book club meeting, I'm hoping to be proven wrong.
April 14, 2024
Oakbourne, 1946: Der Krieg ist vorbei. Doch die Wunden heilen nur langsam. Im "Big House" versucht Alice alles, um ihren Mann Stephen aus dem schwarzen Loch zu holen, in dem er sich seit seiner Rückkehr vergräbt. Doch wie soll ein Mensch ins Leben zurückfinden, der sich weigert, das Leben anzuerkennen?
"Der erste Frühling danach" war mein erster Roman von Sarah Hardy und hat mich bewegt. Die Autorin hat einen ruhigen, geradezu stillen Roman über die ersten Jahre nach dem Krieg erschaffen. Und sie zeigt, dass ein Sieg im Krieg nicht automatisch Frieden für die Menschen bedeutet.
Die Geschichte dreht sich um Stephen und seine Frau Alice, den Dorfarzt Jonathan und seine Frau Jane sowie den Pfarrer George. Kapitelweise darf man diese Figuren begleiten und erhält tiefe Einblicke in ihr alltägliches sowie seelisches Leben. Diese tiefen, schonungslosen Einblicke haben mich tief berührt.
Der Roman selbst wirkt eher still. Es gibt keine klassische Spannungskurve. Das Besondere an diesem Buch ist seine Geduld mit den Figuren. Man kann die Erkenntnisse der einzelnen Figuren geradezu beim Wachsen zusehen und ist dabei in diesem Prozess gefangen.
Das Ende war für mich bittersüß und hoffnungsvoll. Es passt hervorragend zum gesamten Werk.
Ich kann das Buch jedem empfehlen, der wissen möchte, wie ein Krieg sich emotional auf die Beteiligten auswirkt, ohne dabei eine voyeuristische Perspektive einnehmen zu müssen.
"Der erste Frühling danach" war mein erster Roman von Sarah Hardy und hat mich bewegt. Die Autorin hat einen ruhigen, geradezu stillen Roman über die ersten Jahre nach dem Krieg erschaffen. Und sie zeigt, dass ein Sieg im Krieg nicht automatisch Frieden für die Menschen bedeutet.
Die Geschichte dreht sich um Stephen und seine Frau Alice, den Dorfarzt Jonathan und seine Frau Jane sowie den Pfarrer George. Kapitelweise darf man diese Figuren begleiten und erhält tiefe Einblicke in ihr alltägliches sowie seelisches Leben. Diese tiefen, schonungslosen Einblicke haben mich tief berührt.
Der Roman selbst wirkt eher still. Es gibt keine klassische Spannungskurve. Das Besondere an diesem Buch ist seine Geduld mit den Figuren. Man kann die Erkenntnisse der einzelnen Figuren geradezu beim Wachsen zusehen und ist dabei in diesem Prozess gefangen.
Das Ende war für mich bittersüß und hoffnungsvoll. Es passt hervorragend zum gesamten Werk.
Ich kann das Buch jedem empfehlen, der wissen möchte, wie ein Krieg sich emotional auf die Beteiligten auswirkt, ohne dabei eine voyeuristische Perspektive einnehmen zu müssen.
July 27, 2025
3,5 ⭐️
This was different to what I excpected it to be, but by no means bad. It was a fast read for me and I kept coming back to it, but I didn't feel an emotional connection to the characters at all. I felt that, at some points, it villanised veterans, which I don't believe was intentional, and cramming all revelations into the last 20-50 pages really was unnecessary. I would've enjoyed it more to see character progression throughout the book, especially because we're in multiple POVs, rather than having all the veterans "confess" in the last bit, it seemed cheap. I also think it's direspectful (yes, I said that) to not do your research when it comes to using another language. I can't speak for the French, but the one (!) time German was used was wrong. Translating Tell me! to Sag mir! is just wrong and a quick Google search would've told the author / agent / editor that it should be Sag's mir! Don't pmo sorry this is such a huge issue in historical fiction especially about WW2; the same happened with Amis' Zone of Interesg like ??? It's really not that hard sorry
This was different to what I excpected it to be, but by no means bad. It was a fast read for me and I kept coming back to it, but I didn't feel an emotional connection to the characters at all. I felt that, at some points, it villanised veterans, which I don't believe was intentional, and cramming all revelations into the last 20-50 pages really was unnecessary. I would've enjoyed it more to see character progression throughout the book, especially because we're in multiple POVs, rather than having all the veterans "confess" in the last bit, it seemed cheap. I also think it's direspectful (yes, I said that) to not do your research when it comes to using another language. I can't speak for the French, but the one (!) time German was used was wrong. Translating Tell me! to Sag mir! is just wrong and a quick Google search would've told the author / agent / editor that it should be Sag's mir! Don't pmo sorry this is such a huge issue in historical fiction especially about WW2; the same happened with Amis' Zone of Interesg like ??? It's really not that hard sorry
June 18, 2023
Beautiful
February 25, 2023
World War II is over, and those men lucky enough to survive have returned home. But are they really the lucky ones? This book looks at the mental and physical struggles war inflicted on those who went off, and also covers the effect on the loved ones left behind.
The main characters are Alice and Stephen. Alice is Lady of the Manor, and her husband Stephen has returned from war a completely different man. He cannot tell her what happened to him, and she struggles to work through their life together. Can she make him open up and recover the love they had, or will the draw of an illicit affair be too strong for her to resist?
Supplementary characters also have their experiences of war examined, and the Downes family echo the story of Alice and Stephen - Dr Downes cannot explain to his family the atrocities he saw, and as such their family life has changed drastically.
I desperately wanted to love this book, but I found the first half incredibly slow. Once characters started to talk and open up to each other, the story came alive and I really enjoyed the latter stages. Overall, I felt the book was a heartwrenching look at the effects of war.
The main characters are Alice and Stephen. Alice is Lady of the Manor, and her husband Stephen has returned from war a completely different man. He cannot tell her what happened to him, and she struggles to work through their life together. Can she make him open up and recover the love they had, or will the draw of an illicit affair be too strong for her to resist?
Supplementary characters also have their experiences of war examined, and the Downes family echo the story of Alice and Stephen - Dr Downes cannot explain to his family the atrocities he saw, and as such their family life has changed drastically.
I desperately wanted to love this book, but I found the first half incredibly slow. Once characters started to talk and open up to each other, the story came alive and I really enjoyed the latter stages. Overall, I felt the book was a heartwrenching look at the effects of war.
September 26, 2023
Not really sure what I thought about this book.
It covered an important subject, but I felt there was a lot of introspection from a variety of characters and I never engaged with any of them.
Given the title of the book, I expected the walled garden to feature prominently in the story, but not so.
I liked the cover!
It covered an important subject, but I felt there was a lot of introspection from a variety of characters and I never engaged with any of them.
Given the title of the book, I expected the walled garden to feature prominently in the story, but not so.
I liked the cover!
March 4, 2024
I love historical fiction its my favourite genre.
I especialy loved the mental health theme throughout. I was so interested in the characters having PTSD from the war . It was good to get an insight into what life might have been like for them and how relationships were strained and times were hard. If the book stopped halfway through I would have loved it.
Heres where It was spoilt for me though. I was expecting a thought provoking interesting journey to finding a way forward. That purpose might be found again in an interesting way but instead it was just the typical time old ending…
spoiler alert
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-
-
-
-
-
I wish I had known that the story would have a pronatalist message of -have a baby it’ll give purpose in a time of grief and hardship itll fix everything- an ending where the main character tells her husband shes pregnant and it gives him purpose and gives everyone a happy ending. preachy lines about how it was what they needed.
yet another story that has a miserable couple seen as odd and failing at life that are then made happy by a baby? the book made it clear the characters couldnt have been ok and couldnt have had purpose without this child so what does that mean for the many people for who they either cant or dont want kinds?
I know im being harsh and some may like this storyline, but perhaps it should be more clear in the blurb what the books about so that it gets the right audience:
If you like that then go for it. but if like me you find it preachy and an outdated trope dont do it. i wish i didnt read this book.
I especialy loved the mental health theme throughout. I was so interested in the characters having PTSD from the war . It was good to get an insight into what life might have been like for them and how relationships were strained and times were hard. If the book stopped halfway through I would have loved it.
Heres where It was spoilt for me though. I was expecting a thought provoking interesting journey to finding a way forward. That purpose might be found again in an interesting way but instead it was just the typical time old ending…
spoiler alert
-
-
-
-
-
-
I wish I had known that the story would have a pronatalist message of -have a baby it’ll give purpose in a time of grief and hardship itll fix everything- an ending where the main character tells her husband shes pregnant and it gives him purpose and gives everyone a happy ending. preachy lines about how it was what they needed.
yet another story that has a miserable couple seen as odd and failing at life that are then made happy by a baby? the book made it clear the characters couldnt have been ok and couldnt have had purpose without this child so what does that mean for the many people for who they either cant or dont want kinds?
I know im being harsh and some may like this storyline, but perhaps it should be more clear in the blurb what the books about so that it gets the right audience:
If you like that then go for it. but if like me you find it preachy and an outdated trope dont do it. i wish i didnt read this book.
February 27, 2023
There's a lot of books about the aftermath and the impact of WWI on the veterans but there's not a lot about the aftermath of WWII.
This is a good story, a story about what happens when the men you married is back after the war and he changed and you have to fight to save your home and maybe change your life.
The author is a good storyteller and developed an intriguing plot, heart breaking and compelling, and a cast of well rounded characters.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
This is a good story, a story about what happens when the men you married is back after the war and he changed and you have to fight to save your home and maybe change your life.
The author is a good storyteller and developed an intriguing plot, heart breaking and compelling, and a cast of well rounded characters.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
April 4, 2024
3.5/5
This is a historical fiction story. The writing is very descriptive. I felt a lack of connection to the characters. The story also felt weak in places.
This is a historical fiction story. The writing is very descriptive. I felt a lack of connection to the characters. The story also felt weak in places.
April 3, 2023
Set in a small Suffolk village, just after the end of the Second World War, The Walled Garden is a slower paced, character driven novel focusing on the aftermath of war. Broken bodies and broken minds was how I thought of the men in this story. Wives and partners that had stepped up to the war effort in their own way, frustrated at having to take a back seat now that the men have returned to reclaim their job alongside those women having to cope with the loss of their children killed during battle and their husbands, survivors of a most terrible experience.
The main focus of the village is Oakbourne Hall, a crumbling, dilapidated building following the departure of the occupying Canadian soldiers. Alice Rayne and her husband, Sir Stephen face a desperate future – not only is there little money to repair the house that has been in Stephen’s family for generations but her husband, tormented by his wartime experiences is unable to articulate his mental torture to Alice and instead pulls away and retreats into the attic and into himself and is far from the loving and gentle man that Alice married.
There are others suffering similarly, including the local GP, Dr Downes, once a brilliant surgeon but who has returned from a POW camp with life changing injuries and an almost obsessive desire for change concerning social justice and equality. In constant pain, he has a kind word for his patients but his wife Jane and their children only see a frustrated, bitter and argumentative man. A newcomer to the village is Reverend George Ivens. A talented young clergyman who has been moved to the country away from the bombsites of London for health reasons.
Beautifully and sensitively written, Sarah Hardy’s evocative debut explores themes of regret, love, loss and the repercussions of war on both the survivors who returned and the loved ones left behind. It seems that everyone was just expected to pick up their lives as before and get on with it, despite the horrendous ordeal suffered. Shut out of her husband’s life, Alice finds solace and comfort elsewhere, and uses her love of nature and plants to take on the enormous task of rebuilding part of the Hall’s garden. As one of the main characters, Alice was probably the one I sympathised with the most. She was desperate to help her husband but helpless in the face of his total refusal and inability to confide in her.
I think two words sum up the book for me. Resilience and hope as these characters try to cope with a new world. It is an extraordinary debut and a story that won’t be rushed. It is at times heartbreaking and the mental anguish intense. There are many novels set against the background of the Second World War but this definitely deserves its place amongst them.
The main focus of the village is Oakbourne Hall, a crumbling, dilapidated building following the departure of the occupying Canadian soldiers. Alice Rayne and her husband, Sir Stephen face a desperate future – not only is there little money to repair the house that has been in Stephen’s family for generations but her husband, tormented by his wartime experiences is unable to articulate his mental torture to Alice and instead pulls away and retreats into the attic and into himself and is far from the loving and gentle man that Alice married.
There are others suffering similarly, including the local GP, Dr Downes, once a brilliant surgeon but who has returned from a POW camp with life changing injuries and an almost obsessive desire for change concerning social justice and equality. In constant pain, he has a kind word for his patients but his wife Jane and their children only see a frustrated, bitter and argumentative man. A newcomer to the village is Reverend George Ivens. A talented young clergyman who has been moved to the country away from the bombsites of London for health reasons.
Beautifully and sensitively written, Sarah Hardy’s evocative debut explores themes of regret, love, loss and the repercussions of war on both the survivors who returned and the loved ones left behind. It seems that everyone was just expected to pick up their lives as before and get on with it, despite the horrendous ordeal suffered. Shut out of her husband’s life, Alice finds solace and comfort elsewhere, and uses her love of nature and plants to take on the enormous task of rebuilding part of the Hall’s garden. As one of the main characters, Alice was probably the one I sympathised with the most. She was desperate to help her husband but helpless in the face of his total refusal and inability to confide in her.
I think two words sum up the book for me. Resilience and hope as these characters try to cope with a new world. It is an extraordinary debut and a story that won’t be rushed. It is at times heartbreaking and the mental anguish intense. There are many novels set against the background of the Second World War but this definitely deserves its place amongst them.
April 4, 2023
The Walled Garden focuses on a small rural Sussex community in the aftermath of the second world war. For many families the men didn't come home and those who did return were changed by the trauma of what they had seen and done. Back to normality they struggled to cope and many never shared details of their experiences with their families.
We meet Sir Stephen, a young aristocrat, who was newly married at the start of the war but once home he is bitter, reclusive and cruel to his wife.
The village GP, Dr Downes was a top surgeon before the war, but the loss of a leg and an acquired tremor meant that he has had to scale back his career and in frustration he lashes out at his family.
Mr Ivens, the new vicar, didn't sign up due to a serious health condition and feels guilty that he didn't do his part. As his health deteriorates he hides it from his parishioners, as he knows that they are dealing with mental and physical injuries.
The women are also suffering, their men have changed and their own roles, which adapted during the war have changed once again. Alice, Stephen's wife is lonely in the big house with her husband avoiding her. She worries their dreams of having a family are over and focuses her frustration on the neglected walled garden, hoping to restore it to its fomer beauty.
This book is beautifully written and depicts an era which is often brushed under the carpet. The walled garden itself doesn't actually feature a great deal, but perhaps is more a euphemism for a generational culture that internalised horrific experiences and tried to carry on, rather than talking. I got a little lost towards the middle of this book but glad I persevered as it comes into its own at the end as the mens' stories are revealed.
We meet Sir Stephen, a young aristocrat, who was newly married at the start of the war but once home he is bitter, reclusive and cruel to his wife.
The village GP, Dr Downes was a top surgeon before the war, but the loss of a leg and an acquired tremor meant that he has had to scale back his career and in frustration he lashes out at his family.
Mr Ivens, the new vicar, didn't sign up due to a serious health condition and feels guilty that he didn't do his part. As his health deteriorates he hides it from his parishioners, as he knows that they are dealing with mental and physical injuries.
The women are also suffering, their men have changed and their own roles, which adapted during the war have changed once again. Alice, Stephen's wife is lonely in the big house with her husband avoiding her. She worries their dreams of having a family are over and focuses her frustration on the neglected walled garden, hoping to restore it to its fomer beauty.
This book is beautifully written and depicts an era which is often brushed under the carpet. The walled garden itself doesn't actually feature a great deal, but perhaps is more a euphemism for a generational culture that internalised horrific experiences and tried to carry on, rather than talking. I got a little lost towards the middle of this book but glad I persevered as it comes into its own at the end as the mens' stories are revealed.
April 2, 2023
3.75 :)
August 9, 2023
A good read dealing with the mental turmoil of those men returning to their families after fighting in WW2.
January 1, 2024
3,5 ⭐
The story line took a bit too long to develop and the ending was rushed, hence the 3,5 ⭐ interesting story tho
The story line took a bit too long to develop and the ending was rushed, hence the 3,5 ⭐ interesting story tho
December 31, 2024
Could have been more
June 24, 2025
Looked forward to this book as I am fascinated with WW2. However, it just seemed to drag and have little depth. Gave up at 26%.
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