Andrew Greig: That Summer

By STEPHANIE MISKELL

Scottish writer Andrew Greig's novel That Summer concerns the summer of 1940 in England, those four intense months that came later to be known as the Battle of Britain.

The significance of this moment in history to a modern sense of British identity is evident by its many recreations over the past 60 years in fiction, film and historical analyses, creating a near-mythical sense of that turning point.

It would seem a daunting task to produce a convincingly fresh representation of that time, given the antecedents. That Summer's dedication to "the vanishing generation" suggests that, while the war is still within living memory, Greig's motivation was his desire to pay homage to the ordinary men and women whose combined efforts succeeded in repelling the determined Nazi onslaught.

The novel celebrates that victory while lamenting its human cost. It is a classic love story: handsome young fighter pilot Len meets plucky (and beautiful) young radar operator Stella. She is university educated, he is the son of a gamekeeper. They fall in love.

Every moment is precious, given the continual and palpable presence of death (especially in his line of work). It sounds as though it could be formulaic sentimentalism, but it isn't. Certainly, Greig intends us to empathise with the brave lovers in the face of overwhelming danger (I cried, of course), but the writing doesn't feel contrived. It feels true.

The narrative point of view switches between Len and Stella, enabling us to experience the events through both characters. This works well.

The writing is efficient and unobtrusive. We hear each voice clearly as they describe the details of their outer lives and the fluctuations of their inner emotional lives: drinking, dancing, swimming, sex, burying friends, coping with the reality of killing other young people.

Greig conveys the stressful mix of boredom, adrenaline and fear felt by the RAF pilots as they forced themselves to remain focused while so many of their mates "bought it". The flying sequences are convincing, but Greig is equally impressive evoking the countryside.

Besides the particulars of their situation, Greig's characters explore more intangible concerns: what it means to love another person; how it is possible to love, given the inevitability of death; intergenerational understanding.

So: love, history, excitement, humour, scenery and a bit of philosophy.

A compassionate and absorbing read.

Faber & Faber

$34.95

* Stephanie Miskell teaches English at Northcote College.