I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A man and woman are brought back together in the declining years of the British Empire and must confront their pasts to find their future in author Andrew G. Tweeddale’s “A Remembrance of Death”, the latest entry in the Castle Drogo Series.
The Synopsis
Set in the final years of a declining British Empire, A Remembrance of Death is a beautifully crafted novel that deals with regret, loss, love, and hope. Spanning forty years, the story examines the relationship between Basil Drewe and Celia Lutyens, and how love like rain cannot choose the grass on which it falls.
As he arrives at Oxford in 1917, Basil Drewe is coming to terms with the recent death of his brother Adrian in the Great War. Meanwhile at Ojai in America, Celia Lutyens and her illegitimate son Robert struggle to find their place in a foreign country. On returning to England, Celia renews her acquaintance with Basil and finds she must deal with the mistakes of her past and the constraints placed upon her by society and its expectations. Their journey takes them to India, Vienna, London, Nuremberg and Kenya. Finally, they return to Castle Drogo, the place where they first met, however, the castle no longer represents the ideal it once did for Celia but is now a mausoleum.
A Remembrance of Death was short-listed for the Yeovil Literary Price and received a high commendation. It was described as, “prose with a classic sensibility … evoking a clear and present time and place, the characters lifting effortlessly from the page with authentic dialogue and engaging set pieces.”
The Review
A truly heartfelt and engaging historical fiction read. The author does a marvelous job of balancing the more significant historical events and settings with the more personal, emotional moments the characters endure during the story. The awesome use of imagery throughout the writing allowed the reader to feel immersed in the narrative, stepping back in time and experiencing life at the end of and after WWI in a unique way.
Yet the author did that without sacrificing the important character development that played such a vital role in the story. The honest and powerful themes the author explores in this historical setting, from the power of grief and loss and how it impacts a person to the overwhelming nature of love and even the impact that colonialism overall had on the world, a commentary on the legacy of the British Empire before it fell to be sure, made this such a powerful and moving read. The care and attention that the protagonist Basil took to the other characters in this story, Celia for sure, and also characters like Indian student Laxman, showed the heart and drive that made Basil such a memorable protagonist.
The Verdict
Author Andrew Tweeddale’s “A Remembrance of Death” is authentic, detailed, and engaging historical fiction. It is a must-read novel. The emotional and heartfelt moments between the characters and the rich historical narrative that develops will keep readers invested and eager for a third book in this passionately written series. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Andrew has worked as a chef, a lawyer and is now an author.
‘Of All Faiths & None’ was Andrew’s first novel, published in 2022, and tells the story of the Drewe and Lutyens families in the final years before World War 1. The novel is centred around Castle Drogo, the last great castle to be built in England. The castle is out-of-place in a modern world and its construction reflects the turmoil of the times. However, foremost the novel is a romance where relationships are shattered by an unrelenting war. Andrew’s second novel ‘A Remembrance of Death’ takes the story from 1917 to 1955 and deals with Basil Drewe and Celia Lutyens and their relationship during the darkest moments of modern history. Andrew is currently writing a third novel in the Castle Drogo series which he hopes will be publish in 2026.
