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The Picture Book by Jo Baker

By Eithne Farry on Thursday 22 September 2011

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An epic tale of war's effects on four generations of a family

An epic tale of war's effects on four generations of a family, as conflict, marriage and social upheaval change expectations and destinies.

This tale opens in WW1-era Gallipoli, with William sending postcards home to his pregnant wife as he waits to head into battle. His son Billy survives the 1944 D-Day landings, but comes back changed, full of haunting memories and bruised emotions. Billy's son Will becomes an unfaithful Oxford academic in the 1960s, while in contemporary London, Will's daughter Billie tries to reconcile love, pragmatism and artistic ambition. It's a poignant, emotionally intense read that illuminates the legacies of love and loss for ordinary people.

Review by Eithne Farry

Release date: Thursday 22 September 2011