Against the Day, the paperback: a review

[pynchonoid]

=
The Twentieth Century. The Second World War.
--- Alternative History.

Against the Day, Michael Cronin, Oxford University
Press, 1998, £3.99. Paperback. 212 pages. ISBN
0-19-275039-9

What would have happened if the Nazis had been
successful in invading Britain in 1940? It doesn't
bear thinking about but Michael Cronin has tried to
imagine it and the result is this exciting story.

Against the Day is set in the village of Shevington
which is in the Southern Area Command, during the Nazi
occupation. The people of the village have to make
their own adjustments to the Nazi occupation.

First of all there are the two representatives of the
extreme opposing viewpoints. Betty Firth is the
Warden. A collaborator. She carries out the commands
of the Germans who are now using Shevington Hall as
their headquarters. The local headmaster, Mr
Underwood, behaves in completely the opposite way. Mr
Underwood bravely speaks out against the Nazis
regardless of the consequences. The rest of the
villagers occupy positions somewhere between these
two. During the course of the story we see their
positions and views changing and even realise that we
were wrong about some them in the first place.

There is Rose who works up at Shevington Hall. She is
fascinated by the splendour of the old house but her
grandmother thinks she should not be working for the
Germans. Is Rose beginning to accept the Germans?
There is her brother Colin whose main interest is the
Scouts -- Scouts who now have two Nazi roundels
stitched on the collars of their shirts. There is Les,
the runaway who is just intent on "keeping his head
down." Although they do not put it like that many of
the other villagers are actually doing the same. Then
there is Frank who believes that people should do
something to pay the Nazis back. But what? He does not
know.

But perhaps people are already trying to do something.
Why does Nan, Frank's grandmother, still ride around
the countryside on her bicycle? And why is she so
upset when she hurts her ankle and has to stay
indoors? And why is the gamekeeper Alex Thrale always
so concerned about his precious apples? His russets
which have such a special flavour. Even so it seems an
awful fuss to make about a few apples. And when the
school inspector comes why does he allow such an
ineffectual, incompetent teacher as Peter Sims to
remain in office?

Frank believes his father is dead then he hears some
news which makes him believe his father is still
alive. He takes the bus into Seabourne to try and
trace his father. Les comes with him. While in
Seabourne they run into Peter Sims -- and find
themselves involved in the incipient resistance
movement.

The story races on to the climax and Hitler's
birthday. A great celebration has been arranged. The
villagers are all to gather on the village green where
Hitler's speech will be relayed on loud speakers. Then
the scouts are to be responsible for the flag
ceremony. Colin is to play a major part in this. After
this the school choir will sing a song which has been
specially composed for the Day. Only after this is all
over will the villagers be able to enjoy the
refreshments which have been laid out. Up at
Shevington Hall there is a gathering of important
German generals and officials.

Despite everything the villagers manage to turn
Hitler's birthday into a kind of a celebration --
although not exactly the celebration the Germans
meant. Colin, in particular, has a surprise for us. We
also find out that there is no danger of Rose turning
into a collaborator.

It is during the preparations for the Day that Warden
Betty Firth starts to rethink her own position. Before
the Day she is given instructions to make sure that
all the villagers know that anyone aiding or
concealing those concerned with acts of resistance
will be punished by death without trial. Death without
trial? But that is illegal. Later when she is talking
to the local SS officer she remembers that he had been
responsible for the Middlebury reprisals. (Earlier a
grenade had been thrown at a German lorry and some
Germans killed. Reprisals had been swift to follow.
Four hostages had been seized at random and later
shot). Now Betty Firth realises she is talking to a
murderer. There is hope yet even for Betty Firth.

But all the time Frank has been hoping for something
more. He is sure the resistance have been planning a
bomb attack. Is it going to happen or has the attempt
failed?

Frank has to wait until the night to find out.

Against The Day is about the first year of a possible
occupation of Britain by the Nazis. Because it is the
only the first year the true horror of the Nazi
occupation is not brought out. But there are hints in
the book of what is to follow in the way of reprisals.

A well told, exciting story which makes us thank our
lucky stars for our narrow escape from a Nazi
invasion.

A different way of looking at the Second World War.

12+
Through the Night, Michael Cronin, Oxford University
Press, 2002, £4.99, paperback, 170 pages. ISBN
0-19-275221-9
9

This is a sequel to Against the Day, Michael Cronin's
story of what things might have been like if the Nazis
had succeeded in invading Britain.

Against the Day ends on a note of hope with the
British partisans beginning to fight back. Through the
Night is set two years later and, because of the
German reprisals, the people are dispirited and
demoralised. But the partisans are regrouping. Frank
still wants to fight the Germans but he has other
things to think about. He wants to try and find his
father. His friend Les also has family problems when
he finds out that his sister has been meeting a young
German. And the young, academic schoolmaster who is
only interested in the remains of a local Roman villa,
finds himself drawn into the struggle. There is hope
for the future. News filters through to the partisans
about the German defeat at Stalingrad.

This book is very readable but I felt that it lacked
some of the mystery and tension of Against the Day.
Even so it is still an exciting read.

There are some loose ends at the end and there is
probably a third book yet to come. Something to look
forward to.

Teenage

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http://www.marysmoffat.co.uk/bibliography/twenty/secwar/alt.htm



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