The Sojourn

Tom Marshall is academic professor at Maritime Christian College, Prince
Edward Island.

Set during World War I, The Sojourn explores two fronts: the military
front lines and the home front in London. Ramsey Crome, the protagonist,
receives a 10-day reprieve from the harsh manual labour being undertaken
on the front. War has changed Crome more than he expected. He finds the
comforts of home life stifling compared to the camaraderie found in the
trenches. He is thrust into a new kind of front by a letter from his
elusive father telling him to visit an uncle in London.

A reluctant Crome finds his distant relatives at home and is instantly
the centre of attention between two pretty cousins and his eccentric
uncle and aunt. He experiences various adventures around town that
highlight how much he is out of his element. Tension occurs when he
discovers that the prettier cousin is interested in another man. That
tension is exacerbated by her antiwar sentiments and his father’s
unexpected interference in his son’s army service.

This lively, well-researched novel captures the reader’s attention
from page one. The vivid characters and storyline recall Erich Maria
Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front. A short reference section
highlights works Cumyn used in his research.