Customer Reviews

Return Journey

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I first read "Return Journey" while a Lieutenant over thirty years ago. I never forgot the last line of the book. It stuck with me all those years. The book is a fascinating story of a young man torn between the love of two women, one an "ordinary" small-town girl and the other the exotic younger wife of the local doctor. His conflict was really whether to remain in the small town in a small town job or to make something more of his life.

Delderfield is a master of character development. You come to know and have great empathy for each of the characters in the book. You also come to know the places in which they live.

Unfortunately "To Serve Them All My Days," "Diana," "God is an Englishman," and other Delderfield works have received so much recognition that this work tends to be lost. Having read these others I can tell you that this is every bit as good as the others. I recommend it highly to anyone who has enjoyed any of his other works.

I defy any over-50 to fail to identify with this beautifully told story. It is a tragic story of love and lost youth, and as the curtain comes down on the final act ... redemption. It asks the question: Which road did you take departing youth's highway? Who was your lost love? Is there hope for any of we romantics?

I'm happy to report that the answer to my final question is a resounding YES!

One of Delderfield's forgotten novels. One of his best.