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A review by sarah5
22 Britannia Road by Amanda Hodgkinson
4.0
This historical novel focuses on the lives of two Polish immigrants as they attempt to build a new life in England after the Second World War. Janusz, who is a Polish soldier who has made his way to England, finds out that his wife, Silvana and his child, Aurek, have survived the horrors in Warsaw and are in a Red Cross Camp. He reunites with them in England and this tells of their struggles to adapt to each other again and life after the deprivation they have suffered.
I did enjoy this and read it in two sittings. I liked the narrative style which switched from past tense (during the war) to present tense. It portrayed a realistic picture of post-war Britain such as rationing and the daily life. It also illustrated the difficulties immigrants can have in a new country and the prejudices they can be faced with. It was well-written and heartfelt at times, in particular I empathised with young Aurek. However, the main characters, Janusz and Silvana are not always that likable and it emerges they both have secrets to hide which became a little clichéd.
Overall though I would definitely recommend this if you are interested in this period in history or if you are a fan of historical fiction in general.
I did enjoy this and read it in two sittings. I liked the narrative style which switched from past tense (during the war) to present tense. It portrayed a realistic picture of post-war Britain such as rationing and the daily life. It also illustrated the difficulties immigrants can have in a new country and the prejudices they can be faced with. It was well-written and heartfelt at times, in particular I empathised with young Aurek. However, the main characters, Janusz and Silvana are not always that likable and it emerges they both have secrets to hide which became a little clichéd.
Overall though I would definitely recommend this if you are interested in this period in history or if you are a fan of historical fiction in general.