Book Review: War's End by Victoria Bowen

First World War Fiction for Young Adult Readers

Nov 13, 2008

This simply told tale considers the impact of the Spanish influenza and the end of the First World War on a small Western Australian family.

Viewed through the eyes of a 12-year-old girl, War’s End (Woolshed Press, 2008) follows one family’s struggles, triumphs and tragedies as they await the return of their husband/father from the battlefields of France.

When Nell’s father Harry arrives to collect her from the isolation hospital where she has been recovering from Spanish Influenza, she is confused and resentful. She has not seen him since he left to fight overseas and wants to blame him for her isolation from her family and the difficulties they have faced while he was away.

During the train journey home, Nell listens to the conversation as her father and grandfather discuss Harry’s experiences since the end of the war. The story moves between their discussion to Nell’s own memories of the time while he has been away. The story concludes with Nell’s return home and the family’s efforts to reconcile themselves to the tragedies and changes that have taken place in recent years.

A War Story Without the War

While War’s End is undeniably concerned with the impact of the First World War on Nell and her family, it is not a book about the war. Harry’s recollections are primarily focused on his feelings when peace was declared and his impatience to return home to his family. It briefly touches on the emotional impact of his experiences, the bond between those who served during the war, and the emotional scars born by those whose husbands, fathers, sons and brothers did not return.

The novel also examines the impact of the war and the absence of so many men on families. Nell’s grandfather abandoned his semi-retirement to return to work and her brother had to abandon his school studies to get a job to help support his family. Nell’s older sister Martha worked extra hard at her studies to earn a scholarship so that she could continue to university be become a teacher. Nell’s mother had to bear the responsibility for making the difficult decisions needed to keep her family safe and cared for while worrying constantly for her absent husband.

The Spanish Influenza Outbreak in 1918-19

The Spanish Influenza pandemic at the end of World War One claimed almost three times the number of lives as the war itself. Nell’s family is impacted by the outbreak when her brother Jack becomes ill. Her mother refuses to seek medical help, as this would result in the family being quarantined and her husband’s return home delayed. She nurses Jack herself only to have Nell become ill with the disease on the eve of Harry’s return.

The “Death Train” observed by Nell and her friend Billy carries infected Influenza suffers away from the town to the isolation hospital where they received what treatment was available and minimised the risk to their family and neighbours. The tragedy of the Spanish Influenza outbreak was all the greater because it struck families at a time when they had finally allowed themselves to hope that the sadness and struggles of the past years of war were coming to an end.

Engaging Look at Post-War Australia

Australian author Victoria Bowen captures the feel of both an Australian country town and a simple Australian family unit in 1918-19. Nell tells her story with great simplicity and honesty, struggling with her feelings of jealousy and frustration as well as acknowledging her affection for her family and friends, just as any modern tween might.

The story begins slowly and is a little confusing at first. Nevertheless, the story has great warmth with well portrayed characters and images of a significant time in not only Australian but world history. War’s End is suitable for readers aged 10+ and is sure to appeal to those with an interest in history.

The copyright of the article Book Review: War's End by Victoria Bowen in Australian Literature is owned by Susan Whelan. Permission to republish Book Review: War's End by Victoria Bowen in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.