A Book Review of Dance the Moon Down by R.L. Bartram

Dance the Moon Down by R.L. Bartram

Genre: Historical Fiction

301 pages

Publisher: Authors Online

Publication Date: November 4th, 2011

 

* I was provided a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.*

 

Synopsis:

 

 

In 1910, no one believed there would ever be a war with Germany. Safe in her affluent middle-class life, the rumors held no significance for Victoria either. It was her father's decision to enroll her at university that began to change all that. There she befriends the rebellious and outspoken Beryl Whittaker, an emergent suffragette, but it is her love for Gerald Avery, a talented young poet from a neighboring university that sets the seal on her future. After a clandestine romance, they marry in January 1914, but with the outbreak of the First World War, Gerald volunteers but within months has gone missing in France. Convinced that he is still alive, Victoria's initial attempts to discover what has become of him, implicate her in a murderous assault on Lord Kitchener resulting in her being interrogated as a spy, and later tempted to adultery. Now virtually destitute, Victoria is reduced to finding work as a common laborer on a run down farm, where she discovers a world of unimaginable ignorance and poverty. It is only her conviction that Gerald will some day return that sustains her through the dark days of hardship and privation as her life becomes a battle of faith against adversity.

My Thoughts:

Dance the Moon Down tells the story of WWI from the perspective of the loved ones left behind. Victoria and Gerald were married only a few months before war broke out. From there we see how Victoria grows from an immature young woman into a strong, loyal wife that will not give up hope. She grew into a person that would not give up hope and did what she needed in order to survive. I would have liked to have seen Gerald a little more developed- but it was Victoria's story. The other supporting characters were well developed.

The author painted a vivid picture of war-time England and other historical events such as the suffrage movement. I found the book to be well written and the plot flowed nicely. Even though it was 300 pages I read it in a short time. So, I'm giving it:

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