Could there be a more beautiful and sumptuous story about rural life than 'A Month in the Country'?
For such a short book, this packs a fair punch almost from the start, and by the end you are left mournful and despressed that this magical and ethereal time could not last forever. It's all so real that you can almost feel the heat of the long summer days, taste the humid air and hear the laughter of a village unspoiled and unbroken by the horror of war. The fact it was written in 1980 seems almost unbelieveable because of it's vivid portrayal. It's even more poignant that the main character, having recently fought in WW1 and praying to heal from this atrocity finally believes he has found some tranquility and peace in this little village, little knowing that another war will rage upon him in just over a decade. I think having such idyllic peace shattered is just heartbreaking, and in many ways, we can all probably relate to this innocent and pure period of time in our lives where we could finally exhale after a horrible event has happened, without realising we will soon be privy to another bad, if not worse moment. I think in all sincerity that I have very rarely found a book that has touched and moved me so, and I think a part of it will stay with me forever.
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