A History of the Great War

It is 1914 and Bairnsdale, Australia, is filled with the news of a war in far off places. Ida Hallam, a young shop assistant, has fallen in love with Ralph Mitton, a land surveyor, but like everyone else he is caught up in the romance and adventure of fighting for his country. Ida envies his freedom, but when he returns wounded and troubled she begins to understand something of the nature of what he has experienced. Years later Ida's sons go off to fight in the Second World War. Peter McConnell has a sharp understanding of the detail and sweep of history, of Australia's connections with the East and of how world events impact on the daily life of the individual. A History of the Great War is a gentle, strangely haunting novel set in small town Victoria. Imbued with sadness, moments of happiness and quiet courage it is the moving story of one woman's innocent life; of love, family and loss. Like a dream steeped in reality it is not easily forgotten. Peter McConnell was born at Echuca. His father was a station master in the Victorian Railways and he has lived in various country towns including Hopetoun, Orbost, Yea, Yarrawonga and Bairnsdale. A History and Political Science graduate from the University of Melbourne he has worked as a teacher, factory worker and for ten years as a night shift worker at Australia Post.