Description: Journey through avant-garde Paris, Prohibition-era Harlem and newly independent Ireland in this heart-wrenching yet hopeful story of love and loss. South Boston-native Ned Tobin and young Harlem lawyer Chester Dawkins leave behind the women they love to serve in WWI. Can they also leave behind their long-held prejudices and find common cause?
Brief description: JEFFREY K. WALKER has been a stock broker, bomber navigator, prosecuting attorney, international consultant and professor of law and history. Truly Are the Free is the second book in his World War I and 1920s trilogy, Sweet Wine of Youth. He lives with his wife in the Tidewater region of Virginia.
Review Quotes:
"In the second book of his trilogy, Jeffrey K. Walker, in vivid, moving prose, captures the experiences of two officers--one white, the other black--serving in the legendary African-American regiment, 'Harlem's Hell Fighters.' The story of their lives and the men and women deeply entwined with them is one of the best novels in recent years about the most cataclysmic event of the 20th Century." --Stephen L. Harris, author of Harlem's Hell Fighters: The African-American 369th Infantry in World War I
"What happens when a writer combines historical fact with historical fiction - and makes a very good job of it? The answer: an absorbing and interesting, beautifully written read... This is an American story of what we Brits tend to think of as a British War... things also not usually covered (especially in 'British' versions of the war and its consequences) were so very well incorporated by the author, matters such as racism, sexuality and social prejudices. The cast too, is enthralling and entertaining: not just soldiers slogging their way through the mud and keeping their heads down... We meet musicians, farmers, gangsters, all ordinary people caught up in the extraordinary circumstances of war." --Helen Hollick, author and founder of Discovering Diamonds.
"The prose features well-sketched scenes, crisp dialogue, unforgettable visual imagery, and narrative passages that leave a lasting impression...The storyline is fascinating and will have readers turning pages until the very end." --Critic's Report, The BookLife Prize
'This is so well-written. A character-driven gem of a book. Loved it.' Male reader, aged 55
'This author knows how to show history to the reader without overwhelming them with facts. He manages to do what many historical authors cannot: offer the reader a powerful historical setting and also plenty of pace.' Female reader, aged 67
'I was reminded a little of [Sebastian Faulks] Birdsong whilst reading this. There's war, yes, but it's the language and the characters which make it so enjoyable.' Male reader, aged 37
'There are many elements to this story, from racism to trench warfare. The language (and the editing) is faultless. Highly recommended.' Female reader, aged 69
To Sum It Up: 'A complex, character-driven novel. A FINALIST and highly recommended.'
16 of 16 would read another book by this author
16 of 16 would recommend this story to another reader
--16 Anonymous Reviewers, The Wishing Shelf Book Awards 2017