Armistice

Philomena Bligh’s fiancé, Dan, has been shot. The First World War claimed many lives and so his death is not, in its own way, surprising. But Dan was shot in the minutes after the Armistice. The war was over.She cannot understand how this could have happened, or why they were still fighting that morning anyway. So, in March 1919, over Dan’s birthday, Philomena travels to London to meet the men who were with him when he died. What she discovers is more shocking than she’d ever imagined. Dan’s best friend, Jonathan, tells her that Dan was shot by a British officer over a gambling debt. There is no proof and all records of Jonathan’s accusation have been destroyed.Refusing to accept anything less than justice for the man she loved, Philomena decides to take on the Establishment. Worried that she may cause his own downfall and feeling guilty for his mysterious part in Dan’s death, Jonathan decides to accompany her on her mission.Set against a backdrop of London in the aftermath of the Great War, a time of upheaval, grief and wanton escapism, this is not just an inspirational book about what it means to be a hero, but also a breathtaking love story.Review"Like War Horse, this is the story of a heroic quest, a painstaking sifting through the rubble of war by a heroine back at home unafraid to fight her own battles. Stafford's fans won't be disappointed—and no puppetry is required."  —Observer"Intricate and moving."  —Publishers WeeklyAbout the AuthorNick Stafford is a playwright and writer whose adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse garnered him the Tony Award for Best Play in 2011.