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Press Reviews Click here to return to the Home page A Book Review by Malcolm Smith for COSTA BLANCA NEWS, September 12-18, 2008 Over By Christmas I would not describe the book a “swashbuckling” sea-faring, blood and guts romance either. The action is all there but presented to clinically be that kind of thrilling. Parliamentarians aside, it focuses on ordinary people who did what they thought was “their duty” with death as a payment. Whereas it pinpoints few individual heroics, it does expose leaders unfit to lead and leaders whose thoughts were often not on the job in hand. From a Prime Minister who is more lovelorn than war torn, to a congress of Sea Lords who would rather bicker than cohesively plan. In ‘Over By Christmas’ are exposed active ‘officers’ showing more disdain for their men than for their enemies and profiteers on the home front growing fat on the proceeds of war. William Daysh — who served for many years in the Royal Navy — has researched and produced a down to earth ‘factional’ novel of exceptional accuracy. Needless to say, it is not without its battles, at sea, within the War Cabinet and on the business front. It isn’t easy to produce an historical romance coupling political intrigue with a common everyday love story, but ‘Over By Christmas’ does just that. I can cite numerous “notable” authors who have tried this genre and failed completely. E. V. Thompson — a master of romantic fiction for over a period of thirty years — is a notable exception, albeit his tales tend to be more romantic than historical. Bernard Cornwell managed admirably with Sharpe but in trying to widen his sphere lost the plot. Guy Walters Channel Islands ‘Occupation’ wartime saga was one of the few that truly got through to me… and now William Daysh’s epic OVER BY CHRISTMAS has tripped my switch. Intrepidly, William risked sending me a pre-publication copy realizing that I do not show favours; I review books objectively, if I don’t like what I read, I have no compunction in saying so! Time being short (I did not receive the ‘Over By Christmas' copy until August 28) it necessitated that I had to indulge in some ‘speed reading’. I intend to review the book more thoroughly in one of my subsequent ‘Paperback’ pieces. My first impression was that the story line was finely tuned; the research excellent (placing the Falklands in the South Pacific must have been an editorial clanger) and I liked the fact that William’s characters had a ‘believability’ about them. The plot, which encompasses the irrational infatuation of a British Prime Minister for a girl half his age (at a time when all his efforts should have been focused on conflict of a more martial kind), is set around the time of the Great War (1914-1918). Adrift from the undiplomatic bumblings and finaglings of ‘The Cabinet’, in the real world a couple of Portsmouth soul mates, one a Royal Navy gunner, the other a shopkeeper both fall under the spell of an intriguing if somewhat opportunist girl who is already ‘in trouble’… so to speak! That this adds an interesting human facet to the tale goes without saying. Tactically, in the ‘nouveau’ manner of many modern authors, William Daysh intertwines his parallel plots in such a way that whilst politicians are dithering about strategies, fierce sea battles are being fought and a prime minister pens emotional love letters rather than battle propaganda, life goes on ‘at home’ with business profiteers doing very nicely whilst grumbling about paying taxes to ‘finance’ a war which is rapidly making them rich. Whilst a befogged and beleaguered British Parliament still believes that their enemy will ‘play the game’, German U-boats take a heavy toll on allied shipping. ‘Ruling the waves’ supremacy begins to waver. Kitchener is brought in to recruit front line ‘cannon-fodder’ and hoorah; the British public still believes it will be OVER BY CHRISTMAS. This is undoubtedly a stirring, thought provoking story and a thoroughly entertaining read; I am sure that for William Daysh it will not be Over By Christmas!” Malcolm Smith, Costa News, 12 September 2008 Review by Bob Jerrard of Royal Navy & Maritime Book Reviews Click here to return to the Home page "This is a novel, however much of it is based on historical fact and as such it is a very absorbing read, which held my attention throughout. Since this review is for this website “Royal Navy and Maritime Book Reviews”, I hope I will be forgiven for not concentrating too much on the romantic and domestic aspect and the various love affairs. These concern HH Asquith, Venetia Stanley, George Royal (Royal Naval Gunner), Bill Guy and Carrie (Caroline Palmer), which may draw you away from great matters of state, as indeed it did to the Prime Minister when Britain was at war. The book takes us through the years from March 1914 to January 1916 and since much of it is centred around Portsmouth and Gosport where I resided until I was twenty-seven and my family had lived since 1866, I naturally took a keen interest with familiar streets and locations. I have lived and worked both sides of the water. Unlike Carrie I am still to be convinced that 'the drab naval city that was Portsmouth was the most exciting place in England' - however it holds many memories for me as I still call it my home town and I share with her the view from Portsdown Hill, 'their view from the top of the hill took Carrie's breath away - a birds-eye view of fifty miles of Hampshire, Sussex coastline at her feet, Portsmouth and the Solent, Chichester, Southampton and the Isle of Wight. I lived on Portsdown Hill and take that view with me always. This is the Naval History of those two tragic years for the Royal Navy and the story covers many losses and famous battles from the loss of HMS Amphion, an active class cruiser completed in 1912 and mined 4 August 1914. One of the crew of Amphion was in fact Edward SF Fegen later as Captain of HMS Jervis Bay in WWII he won the VC. See 'If the Gods are Good, The Sacrifice of HMS Jervis Bay', Gerald L Duskin & Ralph Segman, Crëcy Maritime, 2005. Our novel does not state that approximately 147 British and 24 German prisoners died when she sank. The book gives the impression that there was just 3. An error appears on Page 63 where it states that HM ship Hogue, Aboukir and Cressy were sunk by U-29. All my sources tell me that it was U-9, Captain Otto Weddingen who actually perished with another boat - U-29 later in the war. U-9 was the first U-Boat ever to reload her torpedoes whilst still submerged. We move through WWI and the story takes us through the battles of the Falklands and Coronel. Our hero George Royal spent a large part of his war in HMS Inflexible (an Invincible class battlecruiser) described in 'The Fleet at War', Hodder & Stoughton 1915 as 'A Cruiser edition of the dreadnought'. A good photograph of HMS Indomitable, a sister ship, can be found in 'The Royal Navy in Old Photographs', JM Dent & Sons Limited 1975 and it is easy to see why George would have felt so proud. George's father served in HMS Good Hope, which was incidentally the first RN ship to be painted all grey instead of black and yellow with a pink water line. The story follows his life until that ship was lost. As a story I really enjoyed the read. However certain other aspects need to be mentioned, such as why anybody would need fourteen attempts to get into a hammock. I slept in a hammock in my first two ships and I never knew any Boy Seaman take that long! Why Mrs J Royal received a Telegram (Page 123), which seems all jumbled up? How Gwen, when setting off for the nearest Naval Establishment in Gosport jumped ahead of her time and found HMS Vincent (HMS St Vincent) which in 1914 would still have been Forton Barracks home of the Royal Marine Light Infantry (Red Marines) who left Forton 5 September 1923 (Last man out takes the clock). The boys moved in as HMS St Vincent 17 May 1927. In 1914 HMS St Vincent was a dreadnought Battleship. The Royal Naval Barracks at Portsmouth opened 30th Sept 1903. There was an Establishment called 'Haslar Gunboat Yard' and I believe a coastal motorboat base was operational beside Haslar Bridge during WWI and in 1925 it became HMS Hornet. Haslar Bridge, we called it Windy Bridge, was once my shortcut home from HMS Dolphin when I lived in Henry Street. I must admire the spirit of Carrie and Bill who travelled from Gosport by Buggy to the top of Portsdown Hill - it must have been quite a return journey in those days. None of this should detract from the fact that this is a very good read, books are written for the general public and not Reviewers such as I. As well as enjoying the book I learnt a lot along the way and I look forward to the author's next book because I understand he intends to continue the story with the minor players. Will George find happiness and will Carrie find whatever she is seeking?" Bob Jerrard, August 2008 Click here to return to the Home page Review By JACK TROUGHTON for the Round Town News NOVEL CHARTS WAR AT SEA "Big Ben sounds the outbreak of the Great War in August 1914 and people take to the streets, prepared to do their bit for King and Country - blissfully unaware of the toll on land, sea and air that will follow. William Daysh's debut 'factional' novel Over By Christmas' charts the first 18 months of the war to end all wars, and as mighty European empires clash, more unusually looks at the conflict at sea and the ships and crews of the Royal Navy. The book examines the bickering on high, the well-documented love affair of family man Prime Minister Asquith that left him heartbroken, and how the decisions taken by leaders affected the lives of ordinary serviceman. Meticulously researched, the history is very real, while the Costa Blanca based author's fictional characters are interwoven to spin a tale of brutal sea battles and life and loves at home. NAVY 'When I came to live out here, it was pointed out that publisher Libros International promised to read everything it was sent and so I thought it was worth a shot.' William first sent a chapter and was delighted the publisher wanted more - finally putting Over By Christmas on the shelves. LOVE 'Women have written back to me and said they love it. It appeals to guys and girls - even my 22-year-old son said he enjoyed it,' added the writer. 'It had to be painstakingly researched because it is factual - but there are fictional characters to carry the story through, and there is the naval background and also Downing Street in it. Decisions are taken in high places and filter down. At ship level, you have to go along with it and do or die, depending on those orders.' William was well placed to write about life at sea after a career with the Fleet Air Arm. Primarily an aircraft engineer officer, he also flew 'a lot' and was a qualified Ship's Diving Officer. FAMILY And the author is currently busy undertaking promotional duty for the book and hard at work penning a thriller. He then plans to return to the Great War and the Royal family in a sequel to Over By Christmas." Jack Troughton, 19 September 2008
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Review by Helen Ross
for The Levante Journal
"War books and books about war are not particularly popular with women readers, but I have to confess that the storyline of this novel had me intrigued. I’m glad I read Over By Christmas by William Daysh (Libros Internaional pb, 427pp, £9.99, €13.49 ISBN 978-1-905988-40-2). Of course the title refers to the phrase used at the start of the First World War; sadly, those hopes were greatly optimistic and the conflict lasted four years, claiming thousands of lives. So many lives. In a brave and bold attempt to reflect those lives and times, William Daysh has examined a number of real life people and imagined other fictional characters, blending them into an engrossing novel about cataclysmic events. Some two years before the outbreak of war, Prime Minister Asquith, 59, fell in love with 24-year-old Venetia Stanley. Married and a father of five, Asquith confided state secrets to Venetia. Alongside him were politicians and military leaders whose bickering and antagonism towards each other simmered and often affected the decision-making process during the war. Among these were Churchill, Admiral Fisher, Lord Kitchener, Bonar Law and Lloyd George. Naturally, the common soldier and sailor sent to fight the politicians’ war were oblivious of the in-fighting and preening self-importance of their leaders. Which was just as well, for morale if not for the war itself. One family who went to war was the Royals. George followed in his father’s footsteps, joining the Royal Navy as a gunnery rating. The naval town of Gosport is brought to life, as are the hardships of serving at sea. Comradeship counts for much in those battleships. Time ashore is savoured and George spends much of it with his best mate, Bill, a tradesman who was deemed unfit for service. It is during one of his visits that he meets Bill’s live-in girlfriend, Carrie, who is an unwed mother. The scene is set for a love triangle. Carrie and George don’t hit it off at first; perhaps they’re both jealous of the other stealing time from Bill. Anyway, Carrie has high hopes to better herself, for the sake of her baby Kate. She goads Bill into expanding his business; supplying food to the armed services could be very profitable. Before any kind of relationship can be sorted for George, his ship is called to the South Atlantic to avenge a bitter naval defeat under the guns of German Admiral von Spee’s heavy cruiser Scharnhorst. The Falklands – one of several Royal Navy coaling stations – was a vital cog in the British Empire; without such depots, the RN could not command the seas and protect the vast number of merchant vessels from all four corners of the globe. George’s ship was sent with utmost despatch. It seemed that no sooner was that action successfully concluded than Churchill, Admiral Fisher and the Prime Minister concocted a scheme to invade Turkey through the Dardanelles, thereby breaking through to relieve Russia. Little did they realise that this Gallipoli campaign would have dire consequences for more than one political and service career. George’s ship was sent to the Dardanelles, where he would be involved in a landing party and life-and-death situations. Inevitably, Carrie and George are drawn to each other, but life is not going to be simple for this ill-starred couple, it seems… Daysh manages to juggle several balls with assurance during the narrative. The conditions at the home front are well depicted and the emotions of Asquith’s wife, Churchill and the confused Venetia are realistically conveyed. The narrative is aided by the inclusion of excerpts from Asquith’s letters to Venetia – he tended to write at least once a day to her. The battles at sea, and the rise of ungentlemanly submarine warfare, are recreated in suspenseful and taut prose. The bickering between Churchill, Lord Fisher and Kitchener make grim reading when it is realised how many lives are at stake. At one point, it is mentioned that the loss of ships is causing concern – they’re hard to replace, whereas men are plentiful. Saved for the closing chapters, there is an intriguing revelation from Carrie’s past that puts much into perspective. All in all, Daysh has got the balance about right. We learn
of Asquith and his ultimately deleterious infatuation, his peers and faulty
decision-makers; we share in the trauma and loss of conflict at sea and on the
Turkish peninsula; and we empathise with those left at home to pick up the
pieces and make something of their lives during a period of grey austerity.
Everybody seems to realise that no matter what the outcome of the war – and by
the book’s close, the conclusion is not certain – nothing will ever be the same
again. There’s a useful bibliography at the back of the book. Helen Ross, October 2008 Click here to return to the Home page Review by Malcolm Smith for the Costa Blanca News (2) "When I hurriedly reviewed OVER BY CHRISTMAS to be
in time for its launch in September, I promised to do a more thorough job later
and here it is. "Whereas Over By Christmas pinpoints actual historic blunders, exposing leaders unfit to lead and leaders whose thoughts were often not on the job in hand, it also graphically describes the valour and grit of some of the plot's 'extras.' At the higher level, a prime minister who is more lovelorn than war torn, dithers dealing with a congress of Sea and War Lords who would rather bicker than cohesively plan, whilst profiteering on the home front becomes blatant. William Daysh - who served for many years in the Royal Navy - spent over two years researching to finally produce this down to earth 'factional' novel. The exceptionally accurate accounts of sea battles as far removed as the Falklands, the North Sea and Gallipoli are rivalled only by battles within the War Cabinet and on the political front. It isn't easy to produce a historical romance coupling political intrigue with a common everyday love story but Over By Christmas does so magnificently and plays it out in surprising fashion. At one stage I felt William Daysh was an incurable romantic, by the time I had achieved page 400, I realised the error of my opinion; he is a natural storyteller with something of a cynically humorous streak. The plot, which ingeniously links different levels of life, at first focuses on the irrational infatuation of a British prime minister for a girl half his age. He spends time composing lyrical love letters on an almost hourly basis. With the Great War (1914-1918) imminent ,such behaviour should surely be considered lunacy. Aside from the bickering bumbling and finagling of 'The Cabinet', life goes on at the 'dock side.' Two life-long Pompey friends, one a Royal Navy gunner, the other a shopkeeper, both fall under the spell of an intriguing if somewhat opportunist girl who is already 'in that kind of trouble!' This ménage-a-trois-plus sinuously writhes its way through the tale from a simple beginning to an epic end. William Daysh intertwines his parallel plots in a pseudo-casual way that rivets attention. Politicians dither, decisive sea battles are fought and a prime minister pens emotional love letters rather than putting his mind to composing battle propaganda. Meanwhile the working class 'love interest' goes on hold in favour of illicit money making by 'spiv' traders. Whilst a befogged and beleaguered British Parliament expects "fair play" German U Boats take a heavy toll on allied shipping by playing dirty. 'Ruling the waves' supremacy begins to waver. Kitchener is brought in to recruit front line 'cannon fodder' and hoorah; the British public still believes it will be Over By Christmas. One of the best historical romances I have read for some time, this saga manages to be both educational and entertaining. I hope it will not be the author's only excursion into the literary world and that he receives the acclaim he deserves. If my prediction is correct, I am sure that in William Daysh's case it will not be Over By Christmas!" Over By Christmas ISBN-10: 1905988400 & ISBN-13:
9781905988402 . Malcolm Smith, 14 November 2008 Click here to return to the Home page Review by Nik Morton, Author of The Prague Manuscript "An engrossing novel about cataclysmic events. 23 Oct 2008 The title employs the phrase used by many at the start of the First World War; sadly, those hopes were greatly optimistic and the conflict lasted four years, claiming thousands of lives. So many lives. In a brave and bold attempt to reflect those lives and times, William Daysh has examined a number of real life people and imagined other fictional characters, blending them into an engrossing novel about cataclysmic events. Some two years before the outbreak of war, Prime Minister Asquith, 59, fell in love with 24-year-old Venetia Stanley. Married and a father of five, Asquith confided state secrets to Venetia. Alongside him were politicians and military leaders whose bickering and antagonism towards each other simmered and often affected the decision-making process during the war. Among these were Churchill, Admiral Fisher, Lord Kitchener, Bonar Law and Lloyd George. Naturally, the common soldier and sailor sent to fight the politicians' war were oblivious of the in-fighting and preening self-importance of their leaders. Which was just as well, for morale if not for the war itself. One family who went to war was the Royals. George followed in his father's footsteps, joining the Royal Navy as a gunnery rating. The naval town of Gosport is brought to life, as are the hardships of serving at sea. Comradeship counts for much in those battleships. Time ashore is savoured and George spends much of it with his best mate, Bill, a tradesman who was deemed unfit for service. It is during one of his visits that he meets Bill's live-in girlfriend, Carrie, who is an unwed mother. The scene is set for a love triangle. Carrie and George don't hit it off at first; perhaps they're both jealous of the other stealing time from Bill. Anyway, Carrie has high hopes to better herself, for the sake of her baby Kate. She goads Bill into expanding his business; supplying food to the armed services could be very profitable. Before any kind of relationship can be sorted for George, his ship is called to the South Atlantic to avenge a bitter naval defeat under the guns of German Admiral von Spee's heavy cruiser Scharnhorst. The Falklands - one of several Royal Navy coaling stations - was a vital cog in the British Empire; without such depots, the RN could not command the seas and protect the vast number of merchant vessels from all four corners of the globe. George's ship was sent with utmost despatch. It seemed that no sooner was that action successfully concluded than Churchill, Admiral Fisher and the Prime Minister concocted a scheme to invade Turkey through the Dardanelles, thereby breaking through to relieve Russia. Little did they realise that this Gallipoli campaign would have dire consequences for more than one political and service career. George's ship was sent to the Dardanelles, where he would be involved in a landing party and life-and-death situations. Inevitably, Carrie and George are drawn to each other, but life is not going to be simple for this ill-starred couple, it seems... Daysh manages to juggle several balls with assurance during the narrative. The conditions at the home front are well depicted and the emotions of Asquith's wife, Churchill and the confused Venetia are realistically conveyed. The narrative is aided by the inclusion of excerpts from Asquith's letters to Venetia - he tended to write at least once a day to her. The battles at sea, and the rise of ungentlemanly submarine warfare, are recreated in suspenseful and taut prose. The bickering between Churchill, Lord Fisher and Kitchener make grim reading when it is realised how many lives are at stake. At one point, it is mentioned that the loss of ships is causing concern - they're hard to replace, whereas men are plentiful. Saved for the closing chapters, there is an intriguing revelation from Carrie's past that puts much into perspective. All in all, Daysh has got the balance about right. We learn of Asquith and his ultimately deleterious infatuation, his peers and faulty decision-makers; we share in the trauma and loss of conflict at sea and on the Turkish peninsula; and we empathise with those left at home to pick up the pieces and make something of their lives during a period of grey austerity. Everybody seems to realise that no matter what the outcome of the war - and by the book's close, the conclusion is not certain - nothing will ever be the same again. There's a useful bibliography at the back of the book.
Highly recommended."
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to the Home page Review by Philip Spires, Author of Mission "Over By Christmas by William Daysh is a war novel. It is also a superb novel in which real events, imagined histories, human relationships, and politics intertwine. These elements are combined via a beautifully paced narrative whose use of multiple forms only adds to its clarity. While naval battles of the first half of World War One are described, we encounter some of the politics that generate their necessity. We see the in-fighting and posturing around the desire to avoid responsibility. We share the priority of a Prime Minister who, amidst the pressure of decision, remains obsessed with a young woman -- and not for the first time! -- a woman to whom he is compelled to write, often several times a day. There are numerous factual reports of the war. These provide the background, the context to allow us to position the experience of the book’s characters. And central to these are the Royals, not the rulers in London, but a naval family in Gosport, Portsmouth. Jack the father and George the son are seamen, while Emily, wife and mother, is their home port. In his spare time, which seems to be quite sparse, George is a bit of a lad. He is a handsome, honest type who falls for two girls in particular, Carrie and Carla. The first is a single mother, left encumbered but compensated by a period of “service”. The latter, a minor character with a major role, is a dusky-skinned, half-Italian shop assistant. And then there’s Bill, who takes up with Carrie, and then later with a Mr Paxman to further his growing business interests. But throughout there is the war. Throughout there is the threat of suffering alongside the daily reality of early death, the hell of battle. War, and especially this one, claims many lives and takes them arbitrarily, though never without loss for those who survive. The wounded, it seems, sometimes have to cope with more than death. George emerges as the central character of Over By Christmas. We follow him repeatedly to and from Portsmouth. He sees The Pacific and the South Atlantic. He sails around Britain into the North Sea. He is in Malta and Gallipoli. Above all, he is in the war, perhaps not muddied in trenches, but permanently threatened by torpedo, shell and sea. He makes friends, is loyal, and gallant and is promoted. But throughout, his passion for Carrie remains. Chances to reconcile their differences, to realise their shared love are rare, but important moments. And then… And then this is the beauty of Over By Christmas. The narrative engages the reader in its characters’ lives. In twists and turn it surprises, but in the end we have merely the complications of human relationships. Warfare is about sparring, about conflict, imagined gains and suffered losses. Affairs of the heart may demonstrate strikingly similar qualities." Philip Spires, 22 November 2008 Click here to return to the Home page OVER BY CHRISTMAS by William Daysh "Even from the early pages of OVER BY CHRISTMAS I was able to grasp the theme which poignantly encompassed fiction reflecting fact; Love and War, bloody devastating battles at sea and profiteering on the home front….. a theme which continued throughout to the bitter end. I realized that Over By Christmas was not just an escapade but an ongoing series of adventures both at sea, at commando level and very much on a romantic level. It encompassed sagas common man to aristocratic levels, extremely poignant en route. Whereas Over By Christmas pinpointed actual historic blunders, exposing leaders unfit to lead and leaders whose thoughts were often not on the job in hand, it also graphically described the valour and grit of some of its characters. At the upper echelon, a Prime Minister who is more lovelorn than war torn, dithered dealt with a congress of Sea and War Lords who would rather bicker than cohesively plan whilst profiteering on the home front. William Daysh – who served for many years in the Royal Navy – spent over four years researching this entrancing ‘factional’ novel. The accurate accounts of sea battles as far removed as the Falklands and the North Sea are rivalled only by battles within the War Cabinet and on the political front. It isn’t easy to produce an historical romance coupling political intrigue with an everyday love story but Over By Christmas does so magnificently playing it out in surprising fashion. William Daysh is a natural storyteller with something of a cynically humorous streak. The plot, which ingeniously links different levels of life, at first focuses on the irrational infatuation of a British Prime Minister for a girl half his age. He spends time composing lyrical love letters on an almost hourly basis. With the Great War (1914-1918) imminent such behaviour should surely be considered lunacy. Aside from the bickering bumblings of ‘The Cabinet’, life goes on at the ‘dock side.’ Two life-long Pompey friends, one a Royal Navy gunner, the other a shopkeeper both fall under the spell of an intriguing if somewhat opportunist girl who is already ‘in that kind of trouble!’ Daysh intertwines his parallel plots in a way that rivets attention. Politicians dither, decisive sea battles are fought and a prime minister pens emotional love letters rather than putting his mind to composing battle propaganda. Meanwhile the working class ‘love interest’ goes on hold in favour of illicit money making by ‘enterprising’ traders. Whilst a befogged and beleaguered British Parliament expects “fair play” German U Boats take a heavy toll on allied shipping by playing dirty. ‘Ruling the waves’ supremacy begins to waver. Kitchener is brought in to recruit front line ‘cannon fodder’ and hoorah, the British public still believes it will be OVER BY CHRISTMAS." William Daysh lives in Gata de Gorgos. Coastal Press, December 2009 Click here to return to the Home page
A Compelling Tale. A review by Pete Lihou, author of
Racels Shoe
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