Hemingway Prize for 20th Century Wartime Fiction
President’s Award Gold Medal in Historical Fiction – FAPA
McClain has created a masterpiece with his down-home appeal and real-life drama centered around World War II. The characters are ordinary people who will touch your heart and leave a lasting impression. Midwest Book Review
Many books have been written about the Second World War, but the unique perspective captured by this book is marvelous…The vivid descriptions of events and emotions made this book entertaining and realistic. Reader’s Favorite
A gripping plot—a grandmother compelled to care for two of her grandchildren during the second World War—develops into a nuanced snapshot of life in Weymouth, England, during the war. Gracefully written, the prose captures Weymouth’s natural beauty as well as the horrors of war… a sweeping, impactful portrait of life in coastal England during the second World War. BookLife
…a saga of a “peoples war” with a peculiarly quintessential English tinge…enticingly written and crafted…captivating, addictive and a joy and pleasure to read. Historical Fiction Company
Weymouth, England 1939
Alice is a misfit. Unable to conform to the elevated society required of a district judge’s wife, she finds solace in her stolen moments outdoors. With Edgar’s passing, she is at last free to follow her own path, observing and illustrating the fauna of Coastal Dorset. Until war changes everything.
When her two grandchildren evacuate to Weymouth, Alice must reconcile her determination to guide and support them with the pain and regret from her time as a mother. She struggles to help grandson Martin, coming of age under the harsh backdrop of World War II. Martin, in turn, struggles with his feelings for Sonja, a Jewish refugee facing the monstrous hatred unleashed upon the world.
Alice’s War is the story of ordinary people confronting the extraordinary. As outside forces tear Alice’s family and community apart, she quietly gathers and restores their sustaining bonds. Set in the town of Weymouth, with a front-seat view of the unfolding drama, Alice’s War immerses the reader in a time unlike any in modern history.
William McClain 