View the turbulent waters of World War Two’s Pacific Theater through the eyes of a British civil engineer navigating war-torn landscapes and personal loss.
Antwyn Price, born in Singapore to British parents, brings a rich blend of personal experience and historical insight to his writing. Educated in Australia and the United States, Price served as a US Marine in the late 1950s and later became a global resident and multilingual scholar. His extensive background informs his trilogy on World War Two in the Pacific Theater, beginning with Paradise in Ruins.
This historical novel, Paradise in Ruins, strives to recreate a world that began fading away over eighty years ago during the Second World War—the most disruptive and wasteful cataclysm in human history. Although the war officially began in Europe on August 30, 1939, with Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland, the United States was not directly involved until Japan’s devastating attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
In Paradise in Ruins: A Novel (View) of the Pacific War, Price follows the development of World War Two in the Pacific Theater, based on his firsthand knowledge of the region. The story centers on British civil engineer Peter Perry, who manages to evacuate his family from Singapore just before the Japanese invasion, only to lose them later. Peter’s life is transformed as he works for the Americans throughout the Pacific.
The novel portrays the initial rout of the US and its Allies by Japan, the turning point at the Battle of Midway, and the two-pronged Allied counteroffensive led by General MacArthur and Admiral Nimitz. Peter’s journey takes him from Canton Island – where he learns about a powerful Japanese secret weapon – to his assignments across Nouméa, Espiritu Santo, Guadalcanal, Guam, and Okinawa. The book vividly captures the human day-to-day reality of the war, reflecting the geography and culture of the places Price’s mother visited as a Pan Am stewardess in the late 1940s.
Price uses exact names for places and peoples in this historical novel, although he includes enough misleading details to obscure the actual identities of all the fictional characters.
Paradise in Ruins is a captivating blend of historical fiction and personal narratives, vividly portraying the complexities of war through compelling characters and meticulous historical detail. Avoiding the typical combat narrative, Price focuses on the human experience and cultural dynamics shaped by the war’s upheaval. Readers will appreciate the nuanced storytelling and Price’s ability to weave historical facts with poignant personal anecdotes.
For readers intrigued by World War Two history and the Pacific Theater’s lesser-known campaigns, Paradise in Ruins offers a riveting journey. Antwyn Price’s narrative skill and intimate knowledge of the region make this novel a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the era’s challenges and triumphs.
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Rating: 5/5 Stars
Reviewer: Ava Stronach
Date of Review: July 31, 2024
