'Unsentimental, truthful and wonderful' Beryl Bainbridge, Independent Books of the Year
When Sam Richardson returns in 1946 from the 'Forgotten War' in Burma to Wigton in Cumbria, he finds the town little changed. But the war has changed him, broadening his horizons as well as leaving him with traumatic memories. In addition, his six-year-old son now barely remembers him, and his wife has gained a sense of independence from her wartime jobs. As all three strive to adjust, the bonds of loyalty and love are stretched to breaking point in this taut, and profoundly moving novel.

'An outstandingly good novel...utterly credible, utterly compelling, and very enjoyable' Allan Massie, Scotsman

'Deeply felt, beautifully realised' John Sutherland, Sunday Times

'The first Great War came alive in Faulks's Birdsong; the second Great War, and in particular the Burma campaign, comes very much alive in Melvyn Bragg's The Soldier's Return - wholly absorbing' John Bayley, Evening Standard

'Sympathetic, touching, infinitely believable...This is a highly accomplished novel' D.J. Taylor, Literary Review

The first novel in 'one of the most distinguished literary series of recent times' (Sunday Telegraph)

About the Author
Melvyn Bragg is a writer and broadcaster whose first novel, For Want of a Nail, was published in 1965. His novels since include The Maid of Buttermere, The Soldier's Return, A Son of War, Credo and Now is the Time, which won the Parliamentary Book Award for fiction in 2016. His books have also been awarded the Time/Life Silver Pen Award, the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize and the WHSmith Literary Award, and have been longlisted three times for the Booker Prize (including the Lost Man Booker Prize). He has also written several works of non-fiction, including The Adventure of English and The Book of Books about the King James Bible. He lives in London and Cumbria.

Reviews
Unsentimental, truthful and wonderful * Beryl Bainbridge, Sunday Times Books of the Year *
Outstandingly good . . . utterly credible, utterly compelling, and very enjoyable * Allan Massie, Scotsman *
Sympathetic, touching, infinitely believable . . . a highly accomplished novel * D.J. Taylor, Literary Review *
The first Great War came alive in Faulks's Birdsong; the second Great War, and in particular the Burma campaign, comes very much alive in Melvyn Bragg's THE SOLDIER'S RETURN . . . wholly absorbing * John Bayley, Evening Standard *
Deeply felt, beautifully realised * John Bayley, Evening Standard *


Awards
Winner of WH Smith Annual Literary Award 2000 and WH Smith Literary Prize 2000.



Book Information
ISBN 9780340751015
Author Melvyn Bragg
Format Paperback
Page Count 384
Imprint Sceptre
Publisher Hodder & Stoughton
Weight(grams) 300g
Dimensions(mm) 196mm * 128mm * 26mm