Title: The Greatcoat
Author: Helen Dunmore
First published February 2, 2012
208 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780099564935 (ISBN10: 0099564939)
Rating: 3.14
Overview
A chilling tale of the supernatural by the acclaimed author, Helen Dunmore. In the 1950s, Isabel Carey moves to a small town in Yorkshire with her husband, Philip.
Struggling to adjust to her new life, she finds solace in an old RAF greatcoat she discovers in a cupboard. However, when she wears the coat, she experiences vivid dreams and a strange encounter with a handsome Air Force pilot named Alec.
As their forbidden affair begins, Isabel soon discovers shocking truths about Alec’s life, leading her to question everything she knows about love and loyalty. With atmospheric prose and haunting twists, The Greatcoat is a ghostly tale that will stay with you long after the final page.
About the Author
I was born in Yorkshire in December of 1952 as the second of four children. Growing up in a large family, I learned the power of storytelling and how it can be interpreted differently by different people.
From a young age, poetry was incredibly important to me. I listened to and memorized rhymes, hymns, and ballads, eventually writing my own poems.
I studied English at the University of York and later taught English as a foreign language in Finland. During this time, I wrote my first poetry collection, The Apple Fall, and published poems in magazines.
I also wrote two novels, but neither survived. It wasn’t until more than ten years later that I wrote another novel.
Throughout the 80s and 90s, I taught poetry and creative writing, tutored residential writing courses, and participated in the Poetry Society’s Writer in Schools program. I also reviewed poetry and fiction for various publications and taught at several universities.
In the late 80s, I began publishing short stories, which led to my breakthrough into fiction. My first novel for children, Going to Egypt, was published in 1992, followed by my first novel for adults, Zennor in Darkness, which won the McKitterick Prize.
This was my first researched novel, set during World War I and focusing on D H Lawrence and his wife Frieda, who were suspected of being German spies.
My third novel, A Spell of Winter, won the inaugural Orange Prize for Fiction in 1996, and I have since published numerous novels, short story collections, and children’s books. One of my most notable works is The Siege, which was shortlisted for the Whitbread Novel Award and the Orange Prize for Fiction.
It is a researched novel set during the siege of Leningrad by German forces.
In my most recent novel, Counting the Stars, I explore the life of the Roman poet Catullus during the Republic. Throughout my career, I have traveled extensively, giving readings and workshops in schools, hospitals, and prisons.
Editoral Review
Helen Dunmore’s The Greatcoat is a captivating and eerie tale of love, loss, and haunting. Set in post-World War II England, this novel is a beautifully crafted work of historical fiction that explores the fragility of life and the power of memory.
Dunmore, an award-winning British novelist and poet, has a knack for crafting atmospheric and lyrical prose. Her unique writing style is evocative of gothic literature, with elements of horror and suspense that keep the reader on edge throughout the novel.
The Greatcoat is no exception, with a haunting atmosphere that will leave you thinking long after you’ve turned the last page. The Greatcoat tells the story of Isabel, a young newlywed who moves into an old house with her husband, Philip.
As winter sets in, Isabel finds an old RAF greatcoat in a cupboard and begins to experience strange occurrences. She feels the presence of a young airman, Alec, who used to live in the house during the war and who died in a plane crash.
Isabel finds herself drawn to Alec, and their love story unfolds through a series of ghostly encounters. The novel is skillfully structured, with well-developed characters and a vivid setting that transports the reader to post-war England.
Dunmore’s attention to detail is evident throughout the novel, and her descriptions of the setting, characters, and conflict are vivid and engaging. One of the strongest aspects of The Greatcoat is Dunmore’s exploration of memory and the impact of trauma.
The novel is set in the aftermath of the war, and the characters are struggling to come to terms with the losses they have experienced. Dunmore’s nuanced portrayal of the characters’ emotional states is deeply affecting, and the novel is a powerful meditation on the effects of war on the human psyche.
Despite its strengths, The Greatcoat is not without its flaws. The pacing of the novel can be slow at times, and some readers may find the romantic elements of the story to be overly sentimental.
However, these issues do not detract significantly from the novel’s overall impact. Overall, The Greatcoat is a beautifully crafted and haunting novel that is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers.
Its exploration of memory and trauma is deeply affecting, and its gothic atmosphere is sure to send a shiver down your spine. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction and gothic literature.
Score: 4/5 based on the haunting atmosphere, compelling characters, and powerful exploration of memory and trauma.
