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The book travel through author's journey of discovering her father's letters, written during his service in Royal Navy during World War II.

Synopsis

A horrifying July 1944 bathe in a French river during World War Two, and the unfamiliar intimacies that can arise during conflict, lie at the heart of Swimming with Corpses.

In this wide-ranging and poignant true story, the author has pieced together the early years of Michael, Tom, and Betty — a doctor, a soldier, and a nurse — from their 1920s childhoods in Portsmouth, Manchester, and India to their experiences in the London Blitz, on the D-Day beaches of Normandy, and in the chaos of war-torn Europe.

The lacerating events of that time electrified their youth and forced a maturity that perhaps landed too soon. In adjusting to life in Britain after the war, they had to decide how much, if anything, they would tell their children.

"Swimming with Corpses" by Margaret Elphinstone Allen is a powerful and moving memoir that explores themes of friendship, war, and love. The book is based on the author's own experiences during World War II, when she served as a nurse in the Royal Air Force.

The book is divided into three parts, each focusing on a different aspect of Allen's life. The first part, titled "Friendship," explores her relationship with her friend Mary, whom she meets while training to become a nurse. The two women quickly become close friends and support each other through the difficult training process. When Allen is sent to North Africa as part of the war effort, Mary remains in England and the two women exchange letters. The letters provide a window into their lives and reveal the challenges they face as women in a male-dominated world.

The second part of the book, titled "War," follows Allen's experiences as a nurse in North Africa. She describes the brutal realities of war, including the constant danger of enemy attacks and the difficult conditions in which she and her fellow nurses must work. Allen also explores the complex relationships that develop among the nurses and their patients, many of whom are young men suffering from traumatic injuries.

The final part of the book, titled "Love," focuses on Allen's relationship with a young pilot named Peter. Despite the dangers of war, the two fall in love and begin a passionate romance. However, their relationship is cut short when Peter is shot down over the Mediterranean and Allen is forced to confront the reality of his death.

Throughout the book, Allen's writing is both vivid and lyrical. She has a remarkable ability to convey the emotional depth of her experiences, whether she is describing the horror of war or the joy of falling in love. Her descriptions of North Africa are particularly evocative, capturing the harsh beauty of the desert landscape and the intense heat of the sun.

One of the most striking aspects of "Swimming with Corpses" is Allen's honesty and vulnerability. She does not shy away from the difficult aspects of her experiences, including the fear, pain, and grief that she feels. At the same time, she celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the power of friendship and love to transcend even the darkest moments of life.

In conclusion, "Swimming with Corpses" is a beautiful and poignant memoir that will resonate with readers who are interested in World War II history, nursing, or personal stories of love and loss. Allen's writing is both engaging and deeply moving, and her story is a testament to the strength and resilience of the human spirit.

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I am an Author, Blogger, Cyber Security Expert, Researcher, and Conservationist, based in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. I enjoy reading and have strong writing skills that will help book authors get feedback, which will be useful for future development and to know the success or failure of their books.

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Swimming with Corpses: A True Story of Friendship, War, and Love

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