Do Not Forget Me Quite
by Richard Pike
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Pub Date 28 Jul 2014 | Archive Date 28 Jul 2014
Troubador Publishing Ltd | Matador
Description
“Now will you believe me when I say there’s a war on?”
She seemed determined to make a point.
He smiled, put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her to him.
“Yes, my dear, I know!”
Now was not the time to tell her what he had already decided.
John Hemingby is a loving husband and father – a musician, teacher and a man of peace. But when the Great War breaks out, trapping him and his family in France, John can no longer be at peace with himself. He feels strongly that he must help his country and his fellow man – but he will not kill. Do Not Forget Me Quite tells of the effects of war on John’s extended family, in London and abroad, after he decides to volunteer for service in the Medical Corps. His beloved artistic daughter, six-year-old Dorothy, is deeply distressed at his departure. She recalls, in old age, her unsettled early life.
In the hell of the trenches, John undergoes shattering experiences beyond his imagining: these include crucial encounters with the wounded poet and composer Ivor Gurney, whose brilliant, unstable isolation is to find a profound echo in John’s future. Gurney’s bi-polar disorder, unknown and incurable at the time, is vividly presented. While Dorothy grows to a troubled womanhood, the separation and trauma of the times act on the Hemingby family, with results that mirror the tragic breaking of two generations in the war and its aftermath...
Do Not Forget Me Quite is a compelling work of literary historical fiction that will appeal to anyone interested in the First World War, family life during times of conflict – and peace – and fans of Ivor Gurney. Author Richard’s writing style has been compared to David Almond, and Richard also takes inspiration from the work of Jude Morgan.
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Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781783066421 |
| PRICE | £2.99 (GBP) |
Average rating from 15 members
Featured Reviews
Gina F, Reviewer
Disclaimer: I received this book from NetGalley for this review.
Do Not Forget Me Quite By Richard Pike
John Hemingby and his family, including his six year old daughter, Dorothy, are enjoying a holiday in France when World War I breaks out. This effectively traps them in the country. Hemingby, a peaceful man, is deeply moved by the war effort and believes it is his duty to serve his country and fellow man. He enlists in the war effort though he is adamant that he will not kill. He services in the Medical Corps and experiences the hell of trench warfare. Along the way he meets wounded composer Ivor Gurney, whose brilliance and isolation prove to foreshadow Hemingby’s future.
Meanwhile in London and abroad, John Hemingby’s extended family struggle with his decision to volunteer. Dorothy, probably more so than the other characters, is distraught by her father’s choice. Into old age, Dorothy recalls how these events disturbed her early life. Dorothy grows, throughout the novel, into an uneasy womanhood.
Do Not Forget Me Quite is the type of book that stays with you after the last page. It is haunting and tragic. Often times while reading it, I had to step away from the book just to gather my own thoughts and feeling. This novel provides a different perspective on WWI because of the involvement and insight into the family. The distress caused by the separation and tragedies experienced is real. And it becomes apparent to the reader why the two generations encountered such a gap as a result.
I was unsure of the book when I started reading it. The first chapters go slow. And I struggled to push through. But I was glad I did. The writing of Richard Pike is enthralling. The tale is so vivid that at parts it was hard to separate fact from fiction. I almost felt like this was happening now, to my family. The musical aspect of the book should not be overlooked. It was powerful. And at several points, I found myself stopping to listen to a song that was being described or referenced.
Do Not Forget Me Quite is truly a powerful book. And a wonderful read.
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