A family game of trivial pursuit
was the conception of this absolutely brilliant historical
novel.
One of the geography questions opens
a flood gate of memories for Vera. The family sit round with
silent enchantment as she recalls her own experiences and those
of her aunt, Fleur.
Fleur is a music lover and an accomplished
oboe player. She meets her German husband at one of the musical
concerts and moves to live in Germany. The first part of the
story tells of how Vera goes to stay with Fleur and the First
World War breaks out. They all know that Vera is in severe
danger and try to get her out of Germany and to safety. A series
of traumatic journeys are explained with vivid attention to
detail and suspense mounts.
The second part of the story dwells
on Fleur’s experiences of war, her music and the birth
of her son. Just prior to the Second World War, she is invited
to take up a post in Africa. The boat trip alone is hair raising,
a murder on board leads to much suspense
She is invited to play her oboe
along with members of the ship’s company and some of
the most wonderful strains of music are mentioned.
The research into this work has
been painstaking and extensive, but well worth the obvious
detailed effort. We learn of the Ashanti and the Twi language
and many proverbs, we would do well to practice today.
World War Two sees Fleur on a mission,
where she learns of many mysteries surrounding her family.
Her assignment acknowledges her
flair for the oboe.
The whole book is steeped in historical
events and I found it difficult to put down. My hope is that
Miller Caldwell digs his heels in and treats us to another
helping of such splendour.
Wendy Anne Lake – Novelist
and Writer
REVIEW of OPERATION OBOE
by Miller Caldwell
ISBN 0-7552-0090-X
Dumfries Standard 30.1.04
OFF THE SHELF
At First glance, Operation Oboe
would appear an historical novel. Delving deeper, however,
it is much more: it is validation of the past.
It is a window through which we can view a time when ordinary
people had the courage to do extraordinary things in exceptional
circumstances.
It is a story that Miller Caldwell always felt that he should
tell, about his brave Aunt Fleur and her niece Vera, in order
to record forever their courage and heroism during the two Great
Wars.
Miller skilfully recaptures events in 1914 when, in Germany at
the outset of the First World War, a young Scottish girl who
happened to be visiting relatives when the war was declared,
is smuggled out of the country by courageous sympathisers.
Vera flees for her life but what of the fate of her Aunt Fleur
and her other German relatives?
Aunt Fleur survives the experience of war in Germany under house
arrest and goes on to give birth to a son.
During traumatic times in her life, not least the death of her
husband, her love of music sustains her and her precious Oboe
is always her trusty companion.
With her son grown up and absorbed into Hitler’s Nazi youth,
Fleur finds that she is offered both a challenge and an exciting
opportunity to travel.
This venture leads her on a fervent journey to the African Gold
Coast, where she finds herself in the midst of the Second World
War acting undercover as an anthropologist.
Her assignment is named “Operation Oboe”, thus initiating
what will become an incredible mission of both diplomatic importance
and personal enlightenment.
To record historic events and the lives of people that have shaped
history for future generations, is a wonderful thing to do and
Caldwell has recounted this particular story with an attention
to detail that has obviously come from extensive research.
His prose and descriptions of colourful places are delightful
and poignant moments are so sensitively expressed that I have
to admit to at times being moved to tears.
So as I close the covers of Operation Oboe and heartily recommend
it to you as an exciting, edifying read, I am left with this
one thought: If Operation Oboe was to be made into a film then
I wonder who would play Fleur? Perhaps Kate Beckinsale or Kate
Winslett?
JH. Standard & Universal Newspapers.
For a signed copy posted to you
or yours with a desired message:
