A PACIFIST'S WAR

Ralph Partridge was a decorated British officer in WWI, who came home convinced that pacifism is the only rational response to the horror and devastation of war. What Judith Boyd presents so gracefully here are the observations and reflections of the veteran's like-minded wife, Frances, written during WWII from their home south of London. Boyd aptly conveys Frances's candor, anxiety, and contemplations as Nazi bombing campaigns terrorize London and areas to the north throughout the course of the war. Boyd's rendering makes it easy to see that Frances is a grounded, intelligent woman with a rare philosophical disposition. Boyd also handles the precocious musings of the Partridges' pre-school-aged son with a vocal characterization guaranteed to bring smiles. L.V.B. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/MAR 01]