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  • When the World Fell Silent by Donna Jones Alward book cover
  • When the World Fell Silent by Donna Jones Alward book cover
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When the World Fell Silent

by Donna Jones Alward

Two women, one Halifax tragedy

$17.09 USD
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Awards & Recognition

  • Bestseller

    The Globe & Mail bestseller

    The supplied description labels the book a Globe & Mail bestseller.

  • Critical praise

    Praise from the Toronto Star

    Attributed praise for Alward's telling of the story of the wounded survivors and those who cared for them.

AlbakiReads Editorial

Two women, one Halifax tragedy

Set in Halifax in 1917, the novel brings together two women whose lives are shaped by the First World War and sharply different circumstances. Nora Crowell joins the Canadian Army Nursing Corps, seeking a life beyond the role expected of her. Charlotte Campbell, widowed and living with her late husband’s relatives, looks toward a better future for herself and her baby daughter. A tragedy in Halifax Harbour becomes the point at which their stories meet. The book places these personal hopes and losses within a wartime setting, with nursing, widowhood, family dependence and the consequences of disaster at the center of its historical fiction.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Readers of historical fiction set during the First World War
  • Readers interested in women’s lives, wartime nursing and the aftermath of tragedy
  • Readers seeking fiction centered on loss, hope and redemption

Themes

Women’s independence and social expectationsWar and bereavementFamily and caregivingDisaster, loss and hope

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

A story of loss, hope and redemption against impossible odds...

★★★★★ 'If you've read The Women by Kristin Hannah I recommend you read this one!!!!'

The Globe & Mail Bestseller

'Alward tells this story of the wounded survivors and the people who cared for them with affecting grace' Toronto Star

1917. Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Nora Crowell wants more than her sister's life as a wife and mother. As WWI rages across the Atlantic, she becomes a lieutenant in the Canadian Army Nursing Corps. But trouble is looming and it won't be long before the truth comes to light.

Having lost her beloved husband in the trenches and with no-one else to turn to, Charlotte Campbell now lives with his haughty relations who treat her like the help. It is baby Aileen, the joy and light of her life, who spurs her to dream of a better life.

When tragedy strikes in Halifax Harbour, nothing for these two women will ever be the same again. Their paths will cross in the most unexpected way, trailing both heartbreak and joy in its wake...

Praise for Donna Jones Alward:

'A beautiful, meticulously researched story that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.' USA Today bestseller, Genevieve Graham

'A triumphant, unforgettable tale of sacrifice, hope, and second chances ... with a twist that will have readers holding their breath' Renee Ryan, author of The Secret Society of Salzburg

'Readers of historical fiction, don't miss this one!' USA Today bestseller, Andie Newton

'A winning and memorable tale that boasts a perfectly-judged grasp of historical detail, wonderfully nuanced characters, and a narrative arc that never falters' USA Today bestseller, Jennifer Robson

'A fascinating, heartbreaking, and heartwarming story' USA Today bestseller, Glynis Peters

'A rare novel that is both heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. Prepare to fall in love' Soraya M. Lane, bestselling author

'Meticulously researched and full of atmospheric period details that will take your breath away' Julianne MacLean, bestselling author

'Alward handles the aftermath of a Canadian tragedy with sensitivity, skill, brilliant writing' Lecia Cornwall, author of That Summer in Berlin

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