A Christmas Garland by Anne Perry

A Christmas Garland

This is a novel set in Cawnpore, Northern India

during the nineteenth century.

Descriptive writing, almost haunting, the dry wind, the

tamarind trees and seed pods which fall on the ground

bring clarity and beauty to the story.

The dry earth not long before Christmas with reflections

of how different a Christmas in England might be for

Lieutenant Narraway.

A medical orderly is believed responsible for a heinous

crime of which he is to be tried and most likely to be

found guilty.

Lieutenant Narraway is young and new to the area. He is

given the task of defending John Tallis, the medical orderly.

Perhaps he was given this role as he may be able to view

the situation with fresh eyes. He is not familiar with the

situation at Cawnpore, where soldiers have been affected by

shocking events and atrocities which have

recently occurred in this area.

The little spark of hope and a belief in Christmas in an otherwise

bleak environment brings a special quality to this book.

Amongst the soldiers' dilapidated barracks, the dust and the heat

there is an enduring spirit of hope. Lieutenant Narraway assists

with Christmas decorations in a family home and is given a blue

Christmas garland by a young child bereft of a father.

In these special moments there is the belief in Christmas and hope.

Lieutenant Narraway questions his own belief and faith. He has to

hold on to hope but at the same time he cannot risk giving hope to

the medical orderly.

Where there seemed to be no hope for the prisoner Lieutenant Narraway

had to find a way to defend John Tallis and prove his innocence.

This book is wonderful to read and gives inspiration.

Christmas gives hope. It is a wonderful celebration.

A Christmas Garland is well recommended.