The Other War

Sidney Allinson is a Victoria-based communications consultant, Canadian
news correspondent for Britain’s The Army Quarterly and Defence, and
the author of Military Archives: International Directory of Military
Publications and The Bantams: The Untold St

This partly autobiographical novel tells the story of a nine-year-old
boy who in the midst of World War II is sent from London to Wales to
escape the German bombing raids. Vitale deftly captures the bewilderment
and homesickness of the young evacuees and their quick resilience as
they adjust to their new surroundings. Much of the book is presented as
a series of anecdotes—some humorous, some sad. The colorful characters
ultimately move the reader through their embodiment not just of a bygone
era, but also of the human condition in general.