Raw Material

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This fusion of novel and memoir from a bestselling British author chronicles the destructive effects of WWI on two working-class families in Nottingham. Alan Sillitoe combines family memoir with extensive research on military records and artistic speculation in this inventive historical narrative. Central to the story are the author's grandfather, blacksmith Ernest Burton, and his uncle Edgar, a World War I deserter. The narrative begins with a legless match-seller from Sillitoe’s childhood, whose deformity sparked various family explanations: a train accident, an explosion at the Battle of the Somme, a birth defect, or a way to avoid work. This sets the tone for a tale colored by human imagination and opinion. Sillitoe delves into his heritage, portraying his maternal grandfather, a tyrant to his family, who was respected for his craftsmanship yet feared for his cunning. On his father’s side, he explores his uncle Edgar, who enlisted in 1914 but deserted after realizing the harsh realities of military life. Despite his attempts to evade capture, Edgar ultimately joins the Sherwood Foresters at the Battle of the Somme. Spanning a century of family history and legends, this work interweaves personal memories with facts and hearsay, showcasing Sillitoe's signature “kitchen-sink realism” in a philosophical exploration of his life and inspirations.