Lovely War

Set in 1917 and 1944, this historical novel uses Greek deities as narrators to chronicle two unfolding romances during World War I. Aphrodite defends her own infidelity before her husband, Hephaestus, by recounting the lives of four mortals caught in the conflict. Hazel, a shy pianist, and James, a British soldier dreaming of architecture, fall in love before he departs for the trenches. Simultaneously, Aubrey, a talented Black American jazz musician serving in the infantry, falls for Colette, a Belgian orphan grieving her family. The narrative details the physical brutality of the front lines, the racial segregation within the American Expeditionary Forces, and the role of music in survival.

Readers interested in the intersection of mythology and modern history will find a detailed depiction of the Great War’s societal impacts. It appeals to those who study the experience of Black soldiers in early twentieth-century Europe and the logistical realities of relief work. The book provides a look at the tension between divine influence and human agency. Readers finish the story with a specific understanding of how historical trauma shapes intimate relationships and the way artistic expression functions as a tool for endurance during systemic violence.

Clear-cut; an easy read.

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