Melvyn Bragg — The Soldier's Return

Sceptre 1999 Paperback, 356pp. In the Spring of 1946, Samuel Richardson returns home from the 'Forgotten War' in Burma to Wigton in Cumbria, and finds the town little changed. He, however, has changed: the war has not only left him with traumatic memories but also broadened his horizons. His young wife, too, has gained a sense of independence from her wartime jobs. And then there's six year old Joe who can scarcely remember his father. As all three strive to adjust, the bonds of love and loyalty become stretched to breaking point. (ISBN: 9780340751022). Very Good.