Notes from the Lost

Author(s): Cathie Hartigan

Location(s): England, Italy

Genre(s): Fiction, Historical

Era(s): WW2 / 2000

In October 1943, POWs Alfie and Frank, jump from a train taking them to a German camp, into the Italian mountains. Hopelessly ill-equipped, their survival through the harsh winter depends on the courage and generosity of local families. The boys rely in particular on Maria, and disaster strikes when she is captured. In a hopeless attempt to save her, Frank is shot, and Alfie blinded.
In 2000, when clarinettist Ros, inherits her former teacher, Dorothy’s estate, she wonders what happened to Frank, Dorothy’s brother, and her sweetheart Alfie, a talented composer. Letters from the War Office reveal their fate. Only Alfie made it back, and curiously, in spite of his blindness, there was no welcome for him at home.
When Dorothy’s oldest friend, Thomasina asks Ros to play at Dorothy’s memorial concert, she’s delighted, especially when she discovers that Thomasina’s grandson is the renowned conductor, Edward Barrington.
At St Dunstan’s, the blind veterans charity head office, Ros learns that Alfie is still alive. Impressed by his compositions, she shows them to Edward. He decides to include the Italian Suite in the forthcoming concert.
Thomasina holds the key to the past. It was she that wrote to Alfie and told him that Dorothy had married someone else. Ros is dumbfounded. Why would she destroy her friend’s chance of happiness? But the war changed everything. Dorothy had her own misgivings, her mother blamed Alfie for Frank’s death, and even more pertinent, Thomasina was convinced that Alfie would realise that her child was Frank’s and not her husband’s. Ros promises to keep her secret.
Alfie is thrilled that Edward likes his music and when an Italian tour is offered he is keen to visit the family that sheltered him during the war. More revelations take place when they arrive, and most shocking of all is that Frank did not die in the air raid. An emotionally charged reunion takes place between the old men but finally it is a happy day.
Not so for Ros however, as Edward is cool. She knew that he was Frank’s grandson, and hadn’t told him. An unhappy Ros realises that everyone has had secrets, but for a relationship to work, both participants need to deal with problems together.
Back in England, she sends him an ultimatum. He doesn’t receive it, but regrets his silence, and remembering Alfie’s spirit of forgiveness, he comes to the same conclusion. They are reconciled and together look forward to a concert tour of America.

Review this Book