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An epic romance set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War
Spain, 1936. Felix, a spirited young nurse, has travelled to Spain to help the cause of the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War. But she is also following Nat, a passionate young man who has joined the International Brigades fighting Franco. And George - familiar George from home - is not far behind, in pursuit of Felix ...
As Spain fights for its freedom against tyranny, Felix battles a conflict of the heart. With the civil war raging around her, Felix must make choices that will change her life forever. An epic and moving historical adventure from debut author Lydia Syson. 'You want to get back to the front.' They all did. It had shocked Felix at first. Then, in the first quiet spell at the hospital, she'd understood.
'I feel guilty, safe here.'
'Not exactly safe.' A louder explosion, not so far away that they couldn't feel it shake the pavement. He pulled her even nearer. She felt as light as air.
'Safer.'
'Maybe.' She shrugged. Everyone had picked up something of Madrid's fatalism. He stopped and she knew he was looking at her, curiously, trying to decipher her shadowed face.
'You like the danger, don't you?' he teased her, gently. 'Admit it.' Nat turned and took her face in his hand, stroking her cheek with his thumb, studying her as closely as the darkness allowed.
'No, no, of course I don't.' Felix was almost too embarrassed to enjoy the sensation, this warm weightlessness, as if every cell in her body were gently expanding. 'Not really.' She tried to look away, but he wouldn't let her. He'd seen through her.
'A bit of you . . . ?'
'Well, it's exciting,' she admitted, meeting his eyes again, at last. 'You know it is.'
'Life and death.'
That was it. He knew. 'It makes you feel so alive . . .'
' . . . A part of things . . . ?'
' . . . Here and now.' Lydia Syson is a fifth-generation North Londoner who now lives south of the river. She is working through her ambitions in a disorderly fashion. The publication of her first novel, A WORLD BETWEEN US, has taken a good few decades. During this time she went from being a BBC World Service radio listener in Botswana to a producer in London, and then became a non-medical doctor and mother of four. She also wrote a biography of Britain's first fertility guru, DOCTOR OF LOVE: JAMES GRAHAM AND HIS CELESTIAL BED, learning a lot about enlightenment sex in the process. Getting to Timbuktu is still on the 'to do' list - it was the subject of her PhD thesis - but bilingualism and Hollywood musical stardom are looking increasingly unlikely. You can follow Lydia on www.lydiasyson.com or on Twitter: @lydiasyson An epic romance set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War A powerful narrative from a strong and passionate heroine that will appeal to younger fans of ATONEMENT and CHARLOTTE GRAY Shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award 2013 and longlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 1013 Crossover appeal Award and review potential Perfect for reading groups An original and striking cover that will grab the attention of readers from the start A wealth of extra content available including author's historical research, personal stories and inspiration from family history Extensively researched by an author whose own family were active anti-fascists in Britain during the Spanish Civil War
Spain, 1936. Felix, a spirited young nurse, has travelled to Spain to help the cause of the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War. But she is also following Nat, a passionate young man who has joined the International Brigades fighting Franco. And George - familiar George from home - is not far behind, in pursuit of Felix ...
As Spain fights for its freedom against tyranny, Felix battles a conflict of the heart. With the civil war raging around her, Felix must make choices that will change her life forever. An epic and moving historical adventure from debut author Lydia Syson. 'You want to get back to the front.' They all did. It had shocked Felix at first. Then, in the first quiet spell at the hospital, she'd understood.
'I feel guilty, safe here.'
'Not exactly safe.' A louder explosion, not so far away that they couldn't feel it shake the pavement. He pulled her even nearer. She felt as light as air.
'Safer.'
'Maybe.' She shrugged. Everyone had picked up something of Madrid's fatalism. He stopped and she knew he was looking at her, curiously, trying to decipher her shadowed face.
'You like the danger, don't you?' he teased her, gently. 'Admit it.' Nat turned and took her face in his hand, stroking her cheek with his thumb, studying her as closely as the darkness allowed.
'No, no, of course I don't.' Felix was almost too embarrassed to enjoy the sensation, this warm weightlessness, as if every cell in her body were gently expanding. 'Not really.' She tried to look away, but he wouldn't let her. He'd seen through her.
'A bit of you . . . ?'
'Well, it's exciting,' she admitted, meeting his eyes again, at last. 'You know it is.'
'Life and death.'
That was it. He knew. 'It makes you feel so alive . . .'
' . . . A part of things . . . ?'
' . . . Here and now.' Lydia Syson is a fifth-generation North Londoner who now lives south of the river. She is working through her ambitions in a disorderly fashion. The publication of her first novel, A WORLD BETWEEN US, has taken a good few decades. During this time she went from being a BBC World Service radio listener in Botswana to a producer in London, and then became a non-medical doctor and mother of four. She also wrote a biography of Britain's first fertility guru, DOCTOR OF LOVE: JAMES GRAHAM AND HIS CELESTIAL BED, learning a lot about enlightenment sex in the process. Getting to Timbuktu is still on the 'to do' list - it was the subject of her PhD thesis - but bilingualism and Hollywood musical stardom are looking increasingly unlikely. You can follow Lydia on www.lydiasyson.com or on Twitter: @lydiasyson An epic romance set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War A powerful narrative from a strong and passionate heroine that will appeal to younger fans of ATONEMENT and CHARLOTTE GRAY Shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award 2013 and longlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 1013 Crossover appeal Award and review potential Perfect for reading groups An original and striking cover that will grab the attention of readers from the start A wealth of extra content available including author's historical research, personal stories and inspiration from family history Extensively researched by an author whose own family were active anti-fascists in Britain during the Spanish Civil War