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In Love and War: A Letter to My Parents By Maria Corelli

Paperback

I heard about this book on a BBC Radio 4 book review programme and decided to purchase it. I agree with the reviewers on the programme that the book is hampered by the fact that it has been reviewed by Louis de Bernieres. His name, in large font on the front cover, detracts from the author's: Maria Corelli. There is also the added confusion of Captain Corelli. This book is excellent in its own right and doesn’t need this although I can see why the publishers would think it was a good marketing ploy.

The book a true story based entirely on a letter, which Maria sent to her parents back in England in 1944 after the Second World War detailing her experience of the past 4 years in war torn Italy.

The story begins with Maria and her husband, Lewis, studying music in Rome as the Second World War begins. They become friends with a Jewish singer called Sigbert who at the start of the war is sent to a concentration camp and Maria and Lewis narrowly avoid this. Maria and Lewis struggle to find work and food to survive and do their best to blend into a city where foreigners are increasingly being persecuted.

Maria and Lewis meet up with Sigbert again two years later after he has escaped from the camp and they hide in the mountains from the Germans and sneak down to the local village at nightfall to scavenge food. During this period Maria and Sigbert find themselves falling in love and Maria finds out that it is possible to love two people at the same time and Sigbert feels guilt ridden that he is jeopardising his close friendship with Lewis.

The naïve Lewis, is afraid that his appearance might jeopardise their collective safety and suggests the pair make their own way to Rome posing as an Italian couple. When Marian and Sigbert reach Rome they survive by hiding in rooms provided by friends (some of whom are terrified of reprisals if they are discovered harbouring them).

All through the book you are routing for the couple after they narrowly miss being captured by the Germans on many occasions and are forced to live in squalor and close to starvation.

I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it, not least because of the better understanding one gains of how people suffered during this oppressive time and the acts of courage and friendship that continued to shine through in times of true hardship. This is quite a short book and I easily devoured it in one day !