The Walled Garden

The Walled Garden is a story about the lingering effects of war, for the men who fought in battle, and for those they came home to - if they came home at all. At the story’s center is the marriage of Stephen and Alice. Stephen, who before the war was a gentle poet, has returned an angry, bitter, closed-off shell of the man he once was. Frustrated at her many rebuffed and rejected attempts to help him, Alice retreats to the garden, among other escapes.

While I must admit I found it to lag at points, I still enjoyed the story and rooted for the characters to find ways to heal and move forward.

The narrator, Olivia Vinall, did a good job with the narration as well.

*This review is based on the audiobook provided by NetGalley and Bonnier UK Audio in exchange for an honest review.

This is a beautiful historical fiction that vividly tells the story of how people cope with post-war reality. We meet men who have returned home and women waiting for their return. It is a very lyrical and atmospheric story that can move and hurt. I have to say that the narrator, Olivia Vinall, did a great job. The way she reads makes the emotions even stronger in the reader. The story is given an extra dimension in a clear, softly modulated voice that calmly reads about war traumas, dreams and hopeful attempts to build a new life. All this makes the unusual and rare power of an original literary vision in which it is easy to get involved. This audiobook was beautiful, touching and simultaneously a bit overwhelming in its intensity. That's why I had to stop occasionally to listen to rest and allow myself to regenerate. Overall a perfect story.

This was a really pleasant surprise of a historical fiction! The blurb sounded intriguing and I’m really glad I got a copy of the audio to listen to.

The narration was easy to engage with and I enjoyed the different character perspectives that the story was told from. This was an interesting bunch. Stephen’s story captured me most - that exploration of the impact that the brutalities of war had on his experience of returning to day to day life.

I really enjoyed the exploration of attitudes in post war Britain, in particular the election of a Labour government and the build up towards what would be the establishment of the NHS. It was interesting to see that impact of war reflected on the attitudes of society moving forward.

Overall this was a beautiful work of historical fiction that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my audio copy of this book.

I loved the cover but having read the book I must say it doesn't match the story. This romantic cover suggests a light-hearted historical fiction, while this novel is a serious, sometimes melancholy, bittersweet read. Post-traumatic stress caused by the world war is discussed and described in details, so this might not be for everyone.

It starts a bit slowly but once the story picks up, it's a book worth reading. I recommend the audio version in particular - Olivia Vinall does a great job as narrator.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier UK Audio for an ARC.

A beautiful book about how PTSD affected those that fought in the second world war and how it affects their family.

It focuses on Stephen and Alice and the villagers that live in Oak Oakbourne and how the war affected their lives afterwards.

Very beautiful and the cover is amazing