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Resistance

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Resistance by Owen Sheers is an alternate history novel set during World War II, exploring the consequences of a German invasion of Britain. The story is centered around a group of women in a remote Welsh valley who are left to manage their farms after their husbands join the resistance. When a German patrol led by Albrecht Wolfram arrives, a symbiotic relationship develops between the women and the soldiers during a harsh winter. The novel is praised for its delicate storytelling, beautiful descriptions, and its focus on individual lives amidst the backdrop of war.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, showcasing the strengths, vulnerabilities, and complexities of both the women left behind and the soldiers who invade their community.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is lyrical and descriptive, providing a poetic quality to the storytelling while vividly depicting the landscape and emotional experiences of the characters.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around the aftermath of a successful Nazi invasion of Britain, focusing on a group of women in a secluded valley who cope with their husbands' absence and their interactions with German soldiers.

Setting:

The setting is an isolated Welsh valley during World War II, providing a dramatic backdrop for the story's exploration of resilience and adaptation under occupation.

Pacing:

The pacing is slow and deliberate, allowing for in-depth exploration of character development and thematic depth amidst the changing seasons.
In the months afterwards all of the women, at some point, said they’d known the men were leaving the valley. Just as William Jones used to forecast the weather by studying the sky or the formations of...

Notes:

The novel is set in an alternative 1944 where Nazi Germany has invaded the UK after a failed D-Day invasion.
It takes place in the isolated Olchon Valley in Wales, focusing on the lives of women left behind when their husbands join the resistance.
The story explores themes of resistance, collaboration, and the human spirit during wartime.
One main character is Captain Albrecht Wolfram, a German officer who forms unexpected bonds with the local women.
The narrative is richly descriptive, reflecting Sheers's background as a poet.
The arrival of the German patrol leads to a complex relationship with the local women, who must rely on each other to survive.
The book addresses the moral dilemmas of occupation, resistance, and survival in a nuanced way.
It includes historical elements, such as real resistance groups that were formed in Britain during World War II.
The writing is acclaimed for its lyrical quality, depicting the beauty and harshness of rural life in Wales.
The title 'Resistance' has multiple meanings, reflecting both the women's efforts to cope and the broader conflict.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The novel includes themes of violence, war, and the psychological effects of occupation which may be distressing for some readers.

Has Romance?

While there is a romance element between Sarah and Albrecht, it is not the central focus of the story.

From The Publisher:

1944. After the fall of Russia and the failed D-Day landings, half of Britain is occupied . . . Young farmer's wife Sarah Lewis wakes to find her husband has disappeared, along with all of the men from her remote Welsh village.A German patrol arrives in the valley, the purpose of their mission a mystery. Sarah begins a faltering acquaintance with the patrol's commanding officer, Albrecht, and it is to her that he reveals the purpose of his mission - to claim an extraordinary medieval art treasure that lies hidden in the valley. But as the pressure of the war beyond presses in on this isolated community, this fragile state of harmony is increasingly threatened.

About the Author:

Owen Sheers is a poet, novelist and playwright. Twice-winner of the Wales Book of the Year, his books of poetry include Skirrid Hill, winner of a Somerset Maugham Award, the BAFTA-nominated The Green Hollow, and the verse drama Pink Mist, winner of the Hay Festival Poetry Medal. In 2018 he was awarded the Wilfred Owen Poetry Award. Sheers' theatrical work includes The Two Worlds of Charlie F., winner of the Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award, Mametz, and National Theatre Wales's seventy-two hour The Passion. Chair of Wales PEN Cymru and Professor in Creativity at Swansea University, he lives in the Black Mountains of Wales with his wife and two daughters.

 
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