Book Blurb:
Based on true evernts.
1942. The war at sea is being lost. One per cent of all naval personnel are being referred as psychiatric casualties. The British Admiralty introduces the Stone Frigate approach.
Three men fight for their country in the Arctic convoys of World War II, then for their sanity and dignity, labelled as cowards and subjected to experimental psychiatry at an isolated facility set up to by the British Admiralty to recycle men back into battle.
To the Navy they are faulty parts, not constitutionally suited to operate at sea. To the public they are poltroons, malingerers and psychiatric cases.
The places in this story are real, but everyone who played a part in what happened is now dead. It is safe to tell what really happened. What was important then, nobody cares about now.
True courage is facing danger when you are afraid, surviving in the circus of war.
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/JuOMIp
Author Bio:
Dr Martin Campbell was born in Greenock, Scotland. He has worked as a window cleaner, ambulance driver, teacher and psychologist in London, New York, Edinburgh and St Andrews.
He has written two novels, Bad Beat Hotel and Sailor’s Heart, both available in paperback on Amazon.co.uk and in Kindle versions on Amazon.com. Sailor's Heart is now available as an audiobook. Sailor's Heart was Book of the Week in The Courier, Book of the Month in Yachting Monthly and also reviewed favourably in The Herald, Press and Journal and National.
Besides writing, Martin also enjoys fishing and playing poker, with little returns on either of these activities.
Editorial Review:
Sailor’s Heart by Martin Campbell explores the mental health problems that often develop during wartime. The novel follows three young men, Clarence, Marco, and Duncan, who each have a unique background story but whose minds are ravaged by their experiences in World War II. To combat their mental illness, the men are prescribed time aboard an Arctic Convoy in an approach known as the Stone Frigate Approach. Sailor’s Heart looks deeply into the ravages of mental health and the military’s solution to those who succumb to such problems. Campbell provides interesting and unique views that readers won’t find in other World War II dramas. It is impossible to put down and will leave readers attached to the characters.
“Sailor’s Heart, some call it. A combination of circumstances, all with the same end result. A man at sea loses his interest in the battle, then in the will to fight, or the will to live. He comes in from a cold deck, with no desire to go back.”
World War II is the subject matter of historical fiction novels. Many readers feel like this is an overdone topic and that many World War II novels seem to tell similar stories. Martin Campbell’s Sailor’s Heart however tells a story that is rarely found in other World War II novels. He tackles topics such as the mental health of soldiers involved in the war. It also looks into the often-overlooked Arctic convoys. It allows readers to explore an aspect of World War II that is often not explored.
“Death in war had a script to be followed that both the captain and the men could lean on. The crew knew the words – died in the service of his country, brave crewmen, sacrifice that would not be forgotten, redouble our efforts to defeat the enemy, etc. But this was a death in port with no enemy in sight. This was different.”
Sailor’s Heart is a character-driven novel. The three main characters of the story have very different backgrounds but still find themselves in the same situation. Campbell takes the reader on a journey through each of their stories. Much of the manuscript is free of dialogue as the author focuses on telling each man’s story and experience. This makes for a very unique experience for most readers and helps readers to understand the mental health problems that can develop from the war on a more personal level. The character development of the three main characters is one of the true gems of this novel.
“He was inducted into the Royal Navy. It happened quickly. When he had taken that first hesitant step through the door of the recruitment office, it was like he had been swept up in a passing march of men. There was little time for contemplating what he was leaving behind or what was ahead, and no space left for thoughts about backing out. ”
The prose in Sailor’s Heart is incredibly well-done. Campbell understands how to use words to create emotions within his readers and describe such harrowing feelings as the ones that the characters are grappling with. Not only is the writing well done, the story is well-researched. Campbell provides many of his sources in the Author’s Note at the end of the book. Not only is the novel based on excellent historical research, but the author also seems to be well-versed in psychiatric conditions that often plague soldiers and how those conditions were treated during World War I and World War II.
“Most had developed a fear of enemy action. They had lost the will to fight, worn down by incoming shells, the dark, the flashes and the inevitability of death, though not necessarily their own. Some were still brave enough to fight but had simply lost faith in the navy and what they were doing to win the war. A few, just a few, had caught a fear of the sea itself. They were the midnight screamers, with recurring dreams that came with the smell of freezing seas.”
Historical fiction fans who enjoy World War II history but are looking for something different than what is usually presented in such novels will love Sailor’s Heart. Readers will find them immersed. It is clear that Campbell understands how to write for his target audience and is able to draw empathy from his readers with his prose. Those who are looking for a lighter historical fiction read or are hoping to read a World War II-era romance might not enjoy Sailor’s Heart quite as much. Sailor’s Heart is a fresh approach to the classic war-era historical fiction story and tells a story that hasn’t been told before.
“There would be the sudden blast of cold to take the breath away, then he’d be under. Telling his muscles not to resist and forcing himself to breathe in enough water in the first few seconds, to make himself a sinking ship, would be difficult, but how much harder than this or what was to follow? The other two would believe that he had slipped. There would be no shame.”
Excellent research, detailed prose, and a heartwrenching story earn Sailor’s Heart a five out of five. Sailor’s Heart is incredibly well done and will draw readers in. The harrowing story of mental illness that afflicts soldiers and sailors will keep readers engaged and excellent research with allow readers to build empathy and understanding for these men. This novel is completely different from so many other World War II historical fiction novels setting it apart in a league of its own.
*****
“Sailor's Heart” by Martin Campbell receives five stars and the “Highly Recommended” award of excellence from the Historical Fiction Company
Award:
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