*** DEBUG START ***
*** DEBUG END ***

The Restless Wave, by Sarah Meyrick

by
28 June 2019

Peggy Woodford enjoys a story of generations

THIS complex, multi-layered, and moving novel follows an extended family over a period of 101 years: from the early childhood of Edward, born in India during the British Raj, through the ramifications of his own large family — two sons who play little part; four daughters who do: Hope, Faith, Prudence, Grace; and his many grandchildren — introducing en route Edward’s misery at school in England (“home”), his ordination, his involvement in 1944 in the D-Day landings as a military chaplain, his work as a parish priest, his marriage to Edith, and the resulting family: two sons, four daughters.

To help the reader to navigate the ramifications of this extensive and complex family, it is a pity that the author doesn’t supply a family tree, or at least a brief cast list. Chapters are headed by a name and date only, and are usually not chronological: the prologue starts vividly with Edward’s involvement in the D-Day landings in June 1944, but the next chapter deals with his granddaughter Nell’s problems as a teacher in 2016. “Hope 1945” is followed by “Nell 2016” — (Hope’s daughter).

These are interlaced with Edward’s chapters: suddenly it’s 1915, and we briefly see Edward’s childhood in India, his beloved carved wooden elephants, his awful loss of all this when he is sent “home” to England to school. He later hears that his parents and sibling have died in India; so he will never see them again, nor his precious ebony elephants. . . (I myself was born in British India and sent “home” for schooling, and know how crucial these little physical ties were.)

The Restless Wave is also a timely book, reminding us of the sacrifices made by so many on D-Day. Apart from the lack of character guidance, Meyrick’s ambitious novel is excellent, and beautifully written in a limpid and yet vivid style. The Normandy landing, the involvement of local French residents, the lurking mystery of a French lover, are vividly evoked. All families have secrets, and this theme is at the heart of Meyrick’s book.

Peggy Woodford is a novelist.

The Restless Wave
Sarah Meyrick
Marylebone House £9.99
(978-1-910674-54-3)
Church Times Bookshop £9

Browse Church and Charity jobs on the Church Times jobsite

Church Times Bookshop

Save money on books reviewed or featured in the Church Times. To get your reader discount:

> Click on the “Church Times Bookshop” link at the end of the review.

> Call 0845 017 6965 (Mon-Fri, 9.30am-5pm).

The reader discount is valid for two months after the review publication date. E&OE

Forthcoming Events

Inspiration: The Influences That Have Shaped My Life

September - November 2024

St Martin in the Fields Autumn Lecture Series 2024

tickets available

 

Can a ‘Good Death‘ be Assisted?

28 November 2024

A webinar in collaboration with Modern Church

tickets available

 

Through Darkness To Light: Advent Journeys

30 November 2024

tickets available

 

Festival of Faith and Literature

28 February - 2 March 2025

tickets available

 

Visit our Events page for upcoming and past events 

The Church Times Archive

Read reports from issues stretching back to 1863, search for your parish or see if any of the clergy you know get a mention.

FREE for Church Times subscribers.

Explore the archive

Welcome to the Church Times

 

To explore the Church Times website fully, please sign in or subscribe.

Non-subscribers can read four articles for free each month. (You will need to register.)