Product Description

Portsmouth, January 1941. When the Luftwaffe unleashes its full fury on the city in the first of three major blitzes, the Taylor family are bombed out. Judy finds her job relocated from the gutted Guildhall to a hotel in Southsea, and home is now a small terraced house in April Grove, with one fewer bedroom and no bathroom or inside lavatory. And then there is the news she has been dreading: her sailor fiance has been killed. Judy and her young, recently widowed aunt Polly decide to turn their grief to good account, and join the WVS - running canteens, accompanying evacuee children, and helping the families of servicemen, often in the face of danger from air raids, flying bombs and V2 rockets. Gradually, Judy and Polly find their own grief healing as they take part not only in their war work but in the life of April Grove, and although both are at first convinced they will never know love again, they both find it in the least likely manner.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #315334 in Books
• Published on: 2004-11-18
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 416 pages

MY WEEKLY
'Ubder the Apple Tree is full of warm, authentic characters living through extraordinary times.'

Review
'This story is set in Portsmouth around the years of World War II and centres on the way one family coped and survived... it tells their story of rationing and coping with shortages of most commodities. But there's a thread of hope throughout, lifting the story.' (BEST )

'Under the Apple Tree is full of warm, authentic characters living through extraordinary times.' (MY WEEKLY )

'In typical Lilian Harry style, UNDER THE APPLE TREE is full of warm, authentic characters, perfectly capturing the true spirit of courage and sacrifice in wartime... This is another delightful novel from a popular and talented author.' (BOLTON EVENING NEWS )

'This is the 10th in a series of sagas strong in period and local detail... heart-warming.' (EAST ANGLIAN DAILY TIMES )

'This novel captures the true spirit of courage and sacrifice in wartime, and it brings home the reality of how everyone rallied round.' (EVENING PRESS )

'Harry is another well-loved author whose traditional family sagas set in Portsmouth see impressive sales... It will, no doubt fly off the shelves.' (BOOKSELLER )

BOLTON EVENING NEWS
'In typical Lilian Harry style, UNDER THE APPLE TREE is full of warm, authentic characters, perfectly capturing the true spirit of courage and sacrifice in wartime... This is another delightful novel from a popular and talented author.'

Customer Reviews

Great book!
I am a huge Lilian Harry fan! Now that having been said, I'm sure you won't be surprised that I really liked Under the Apple Tree! The family in this story ranges thru many ages,from "Gran" to little Sylvie, the evacuated child! Ms. Harry gives you a view of WWII Portsmouth from every age angle! That is what I like best about this author! She gives you an in depth look at her characters,so that you can't help but feel for them! Cheers to Ms. Harry for another well written story!

A great return to April Grove
"Under The Apple Tree" marks the Lilian Harry to April Grove inPortsmount. This book tells the story of the Taylor family who findsthenselves bomb out. Moving to back to April Grove, the family begins tosurvive the war. As with other books by Ms. Harry, the characters are realand their emotions draw the reader in. This book is great and should notbe missed by any fan of Ms. Harry

Another great book by Lilian Harry
"Under the Apple Tree" by Lilian Harry tells the story of the Taylor family at the beginning of the blitz in Portsmounts. Durning the course of the war, the Taylor family like many others takes on the jobs in war work.
This is another great book by Ms. Harry, who once again brings characters from her April Grove books. This is a great read for any fan of Ms. Harry or war time books.