The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the first Kate Mosse (NOT the model) novel I've read (although I did watch the television adaptation of "Labyrinth", which I really enjoyed), and I found it to be haunting (sorry about that) and incredibly moving. As a bonus, the edition I read was illustrated beautifully by Brian Gallagher, making the experience of reading this book even better.
The story opens in 1928, with a young man, Freddie Watson, travelling through France. Freddie has been in a sanatorium after having a breakdown over the death of his brother, George, on the battlefields of France during the Great War. After making a slow recovery, Freddie is on his way to stay with some friends for Christmas.
During a wild storm, he crashes his car and finds himself in the middle of nowhere. As he drifts in and out of consciousness, he hears whispers on the wind. When he finally comes around, and with his car out of action, he has no choice but to walk and try to find somewhere to stay for the night. After walking for some time, he comes across some hunters, who direct him to the village of Nulle.
The village seems deserted when he arrives, but he comes across a boarding house owned by a Monsieur and Madame Galy, and is able to secure a room for the night. Madame Galy tells him that this particular night is the celebration for "la fete de Saint-Etienne" and that he would be very welcome to attend.
The promise of hot food at "la fete" convinces him to go. When he arrives at the Ostal, he finds the hall full of people, all dressed in costume, and is directed to sit beside a beautiful girl, Fabrissa. They talk and laugh, and Freddie knows he is falling in love with this girl. And then she asks him about George, even though he hasn't mentioned him at all, and he finds himself talking about him in a way he hadn't before. Fabrissa understands his grief and for the first time in a long time, Freddie feels at peace.
But the mood at "la fete" changes when two armed men barge into the Ostal. Freddie thinks at first that it is part of the celebrations - some sort of re-enactment - but he soon realises that it is real. Fabrissa leads him away, through a door in the hall, down a tunnel and out onto the hillside.
And then Fabrissa tells him her story - one of religious persecution, of escape to the hills, of loss and death, and a terrible and final end.
As her story ends, Fabrissa seems to become less and less substantial, and Freddie begins to feel unwell. The last words he remembers her saying are "Come and find me". When he wakes up, he is back at the boarding house, and has a terrible fever. As he tells Madame Galy his story, she is puzzled and concerned, and tells him that he never left his room.
Freddie is determined to find Fabrissa, even though nobody he speaks to has seen her or heard of her. With the help of a local family of mechanics, he goes to retrieve his car, and the scenery around him reminds him of places Fabrissa described in her story. He knows that he must follow the path she took if he is to find her again.
Does he find her? What really happened the night of "la fete"? The truth, when it is revealed, is heartbreaking. (And I learned something too). But ultimately the story is a one of hope, love and courage.
This is a beautifully written, poetic novel, and I look forward to reading more books by Kate Mosse.
View all my reviews
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the first Kate Mosse (NOT the model) novel I've read (although I did watch the television adaptation of "Labyrinth", which I really enjoyed), and I found it to be haunting (sorry about that) and incredibly moving. As a bonus, the edition I read was illustrated beautifully by Brian Gallagher, making the experience of reading this book even better.
The story opens in 1928, with a young man, Freddie Watson, travelling through France. Freddie has been in a sanatorium after having a breakdown over the death of his brother, George, on the battlefields of France during the Great War. After making a slow recovery, Freddie is on his way to stay with some friends for Christmas.
During a wild storm, he crashes his car and finds himself in the middle of nowhere. As he drifts in and out of consciousness, he hears whispers on the wind. When he finally comes around, and with his car out of action, he has no choice but to walk and try to find somewhere to stay for the night. After walking for some time, he comes across some hunters, who direct him to the village of Nulle.
The village seems deserted when he arrives, but he comes across a boarding house owned by a Monsieur and Madame Galy, and is able to secure a room for the night. Madame Galy tells him that this particular night is the celebration for "la fete de Saint-Etienne" and that he would be very welcome to attend.
The promise of hot food at "la fete" convinces him to go. When he arrives at the Ostal, he finds the hall full of people, all dressed in costume, and is directed to sit beside a beautiful girl, Fabrissa. They talk and laugh, and Freddie knows he is falling in love with this girl. And then she asks him about George, even though he hasn't mentioned him at all, and he finds himself talking about him in a way he hadn't before. Fabrissa understands his grief and for the first time in a long time, Freddie feels at peace.
But the mood at "la fete" changes when two armed men barge into the Ostal. Freddie thinks at first that it is part of the celebrations - some sort of re-enactment - but he soon realises that it is real. Fabrissa leads him away, through a door in the hall, down a tunnel and out onto the hillside.
And then Fabrissa tells him her story - one of religious persecution, of escape to the hills, of loss and death, and a terrible and final end.
As her story ends, Fabrissa seems to become less and less substantial, and Freddie begins to feel unwell. The last words he remembers her saying are "Come and find me". When he wakes up, he is back at the boarding house, and has a terrible fever. As he tells Madame Galy his story, she is puzzled and concerned, and tells him that he never left his room.
Freddie is determined to find Fabrissa, even though nobody he speaks to has seen her or heard of her. With the help of a local family of mechanics, he goes to retrieve his car, and the scenery around him reminds him of places Fabrissa described in her story. He knows that he must follow the path she took if he is to find her again.
Does he find her? What really happened the night of "la fete"? The truth, when it is revealed, is heartbreaking. (And I learned something too). But ultimately the story is a one of hope, love and courage.
This is a beautifully written, poetic novel, and I look forward to reading more books by Kate Mosse.
View all my reviews