A Relative Invasion – A trilogy about rivalry, set in 1937-1959.
Written from the point of view of a young boy growing up in the face of war and its consequences. There is war at home and abroad . . .
The first draft of this work was runner up in the Yeovil Prize (novels) 2011. It also reached the editor’s desk of Harper Collins’ writers’ site, Authonomy and therefore won a full review. Extract: “…a powerful and compelling narrative with strong and relatable characters, and offers an evocative portrayal of England’s war-time home front. Billy is immediately sympathetic and Minett perfectly captures a child’s viewpoint, adding a gentle and honest humour to the story. The mounting tensions between Billy and Kenneth parallel the rising agitation in Europe …”
Book One INTRUSION
WWII, two boys, a fateful rivalry
In 1937 young Billy meets his cousin, idolised, frail but manipulative Kenneth. As the adults worry about war emerging in Europe, the slow burn of a fateful rivalry develops between the boys. With emotionally distant parents, bullying uncle and manipulative cousin, Billy starts to stutter. The one thing that upholds Billy’s spirits is the Cossack sabre owned by his father’s work colleague. Once seen, never forgotten, the sabre becomes an icon heralding strength and possibly destruction for these cousins.
Historical Novel Society Review. Extract: “…the author very skilfully portrays the misery of being bullied…. “thoroughly enjoyed the book. The research is meticulously done with convincing historical detail.”
Book Two INFILTRATION
Two boys, one family, a world at war –
The invasion continues
Now it’s autumn 1940. Relentless bombing in London means evacuation once again. Billy is billeted with an elderly couple. Though happy in their care, sinister cousin Kenneth – who is billeted beside Billy’s mother and sister – haunts his life. Billy’s imaginary power from the precious Cossack sabre, now comes only from its photograph.
A catastrophe causes a new invasive threat from Kenneth. This one will affect both their futures permanently. What’s more, the precious photograph goes missing. Can Billy become a hero when his parents are not?
Infiltration tells of childhood resilience in the face of war, rivalry and parenting ignorance. It follows a boy’s growth into personal responsibility.
Book Three, IMPACT (in preparation)
Adolescence, fall-out, their world post-war.
1945. The VE party is over and so is evacuation. Bill must tear himself away from his firm attachments in the village and face a new life in post-war Wandsworth.
So much seems to be in ruins, not least the life he had known as a child. One area remains wonderfully stable: supportive Mr Durban and his Cossack sabre.
Kenneth, however, is even more present. Now adolescent, they are developing their separate skills and identities but the context is claustrophobic. Their rivalry increases in intensity culminating in a fearful crisis. All the family’s lives are changed forever. It’s a terrible fall-out, and it is Bill who must take responsibility and find a fair way forward.
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Intrusion Infiltration
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About the Author
(Darius - in an earlier draft, this (A Relative Invasion) gained the editor’s desk on the (now defunct) writers’ site, Authonomy where it won a full critique. Here it is:
As well, that same draft was Highly Commended in the Yeovil (novel) prize.
From HarperCollins
Tensions are brewing in England as World War II is set in motion. As the adults’ anxiety spills over into five-year-old Billy’s world, his own battle is just beginning. An only child, he longs for a playmate, and when his aunt, uncle and cousin move nearby, he thinks his dream has come true. But cousin Kenneth turns out to be darkly manipulative and a bully who haunts Billy’s days, though the adults see only his porcelain looks and flawless manners. With emotionally distant parents who can’t understand his plight, Billy latches on to the idea of owning the precious Cossack sabre of his father’s friend. This icon sustains him through the invasion of Kenneth, evacuation and the shock of war, but will it destroy as well as save him?
Minett weaves a powerful and compelling narrative with strong and relatable characters and offers an evocative portrayal of England’s war-time home front. Billy is immediately sympathetic and Minett perfectly captures a child’s viewpoint, adding a gentle and honest humour to the story. The mounting tensions between Billy and Kenneth parallel the rising agitation in Europe and make the underlying manipulations of war more understandable to children. In terms of dialogue, it rings true both between the children and strained conversation of the adults. The author is deft in capturing that sense of tightly controlled emotions in the parents’ characters and in the act of showing, not telling. The scene where Billy’s mother ‘wields the wooden spoon viciously round the edges of the bowl’ is a great example.
There is good pacing between chapters, and the build-up of tension is managed well. Beginning the chapters with news updates helps to orient the reader and reinforce the simultaneous narrative of what’s happening in Billy’s world and on the home front. The portrayal of family relationships is very well done and throws light on what attitudes and values were like in 1930s England – Billy’s mother greeting his father at the door and taking his briefcase; tense, sideways comments about jobs and money; and the sense of social and familial obligation. This and the war’s tension is offset by the humour that comes through when seeing it all through Billy’s five-year-old eyes. His misheard expressions – ‘jelly face’ for ‘angelic face’; ‘Nasties’ for ‘Nazis’ – add a warm comedic element. The pivotal scene where Billy and Angela find the Cossack sabre is very effective – it foreshadows the violence about to erupt in Europe and shows through Billy the human impulse of both the reverence for the weapon but also the temptation to use it impulsively.
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