Dorothy tells soldiers’ tales in own write
Book contains letters from war
AN AUTHOR has published her ninth book, with the latest looking at the history of India and Ukraine.
Dorothy Bentley Smith, from Macclesfield, has released War Letters Home from Crimea and India.
The 307-page book features a series of letters written by two British officers, one of whom was a doctor, both with Macclesfield connections.
It also includes 16 pages of coloured photographs.
Dorothy said: “The letters reveal fascinating details, amusing at times, tragic at others. The first helps to better understand the present situation in Ukraine.
“The second story helps to understand how at times our presence in India has been misunderstood.
“They also include information about the animals involved, such as horses, dogs and camels, with the odd mention in India of elephants.”
Dorothy is also a historian, lecturer and tour guide having previously worked for the Inland Revenue.
She is also a trustee of Christ Church, the Stanley and Brocklehurst Almshouses and chair of Macclesfield Heritage Forum.
Among her previous books is Military Macclesfield and Britain’s Battles 1066-1656.
It details the role Macclesfield played in the battles and wars of the Middle Ages.
Dorothy said: “As much as I can I try to seek the truth about the past by using original documents wherever possible.
“My objective is to demonstrate to people how prejudices have arisen, often out of misunderstanding what actually happened in the past.
“I have discovered so many manipulations of the truth that I often thing we British are very good at shooting ourselves in the foot.
“I have become a great believer in the adage that truth is more fascinating than fiction, and I hope my writings and lectures reflect this.”