I Shall Not Be Away Long

Fans of Andrew Tatham’s first book, A Group Photograph, will be sure to enjoy his second too. I Shall Not Be Away Long reflects his trademark passion for a history project and his evoactive artistic eye. At the centre of the content of the book is a collection of 341 letters between Lt Col Charles Bartlett and his wife, Margaret, a West End actress, sent during the First World War. With beautifully clear photography (so that you feel as though you’re looking at the originals), accompanied by transcriptions (for ease of reading, to help you keep the flow rather than struggling with handwriting), the book leads you chronologically through the 589-day period over which the letters span. And on the way, the character of the protagonist comes through with human honesty. It’s not the tale of a flawless hero, but of an individual man, his weaknesses and foibles – and is all the more valuable for it. At the start and ends of the book are numerous elements to help build up an understanding of the WW1 era, and make sense of the letters – equipping the reader with knowledge that is valuable to take beyond the reading of the book and use in their own research too. Such elements include: explanations of Army units and ranks, and an illustrated time-line. But it is the letters that are the goldmine of information and the heart of the book.

We would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the First World War, or who enjoys the immersing themselves in life stories, and particularly to those who are keen to write up the history of their own family: I Shall Not Be Away Long

is packed with practical ideas to create a visual history to engage your readers. Andrew has accomplished an impressive project single-handed. • Published by Arvo Veritas in paperback, RRP £29.50 including UK p&p www.ishallnotbeawaylong.co.uk

ISBN: 9780993530227 HT