Set in the North African desert during World War 2, a soldier wakes after a mine has blown him from his motorcycle, leaving him with life-threatening injuries and no memory of his name or rank. With his tags and insignia stolen by desert natives the only clues he has to his past are in the satchel of letters he was carrying.
Allison has ventured into rarely explored fictional territory here, touching on the themes of survival under extreme conditions, cowardice, desertion, and the importance of identity. The novel succeeds on all of the levels it explores due to a tightly structured narrative and intelligent and invigorating prose. It's refreshing to see a novel that has been so carefully and finely crafted by an author confident in his command of the language and his ability to paint a vivid and emotional landscape. Part mystery and part an exploration of war and of men that displace themselves from the horrors of combat both physically and mentally, The Letter Bearer stands out as an exceptional debut from an author to watch out for. Highly recommended!
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The Letter Bearer Paperback – 25 February 2015
by
Robert Allison
(Author)
Enhance your purchase
A stunning debut novel about wrongdoing in extreme conditions, and the meaning of identity, comradeship and survival, set in North Africa during the Second World War.
The Rider has no memory of who he is, or how he came to be lying - dying - in the brutal heat of the North African desert. Rescued by a band of deserters, the Rider begins to piece together his identity, based on shards of recollection and the letters in his post bag.
The Letter Bearer is unlike any other novel of World War Two. It asks profound questions about trauma, warfare and the experience of desertion. This gripping story asks us to consider how men build hope when they have nothing left - not even a name.
The Rider has no memory of who he is, or how he came to be lying - dying - in the brutal heat of the North African desert. Rescued by a band of deserters, the Rider begins to piece together his identity, based on shards of recollection and the letters in his post bag.
The Letter Bearer is unlike any other novel of World War Two. It asks profound questions about trauma, warfare and the experience of desertion. This gripping story asks us to consider how men build hope when they have nothing left - not even a name.
- Print length272 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherGranta Paperbacks
- Publication date25 February 2015
- Dimensions12.95 x 1.78 x 19.81 cm
- ISBN-101847088260
- ISBN-13978-1847088260
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Product description
About the Author
Robert Allison has been a theatre director, a film and music reviewer and a copy-editor. He lives in London.
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Product details
- Publisher : Granta Paperbacks (25 February 2015)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 272 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1847088260
- ISBN-13 : 978-1847088260
- Dimensions : 12.95 x 1.78 x 19.81 cm
- Customer Reviews:
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Customer reviews
3.9 out of 5 stars
3.9 out of 5
22 global ratings
How are ratings calculated?
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Top reviews from other countries

Chris
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant First Novel
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 April 2014Verified Purchase
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Memecat
4.0 out of 5 stars
If you like an intelligent read ... get this book!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 October 2014Verified Purchase
A touch of 'The English Patient' about this book but without the romance! Without giving too much away - the story initially begins as one of physical endurance but it quickly becomes apparent that the main character's on-going discovery of self is where the real struggle for survival is taking place. You may not always like the main character; his thought processes and conclusions on life or his opinions about his fellow compatriots but the book is so well written with believable scene setting that you want to keep reading.

kaz dean
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not at all what I expected, but strangely addictive ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 July 2015Verified Purchase
Not at all what I expected, but strangely addictive - I chose it for my book club and it certainly had people talking, on many different levels.

Tones
5.0 out of 5 stars
Reminded me of stories I read in my youth
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 March 2015Verified Purchase
Reading a story about WW11 in North Africa reminded me of stories I read in my youth and which I thoroughly enjoyed. This one was no exception 50 years on!

ronald garrens
5.0 out of 5 stars
Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 June 2015Verified Purchase
good