About this book
William John Locke's haunting wartime novel The Red Planet follows Major Duncan Meredyth, a paralyzed veteran of the Boer Wars, as he navigates the quiet complexities of village life during World War I. Confined to a wheelchair yet refusing to be defined by his disability, Meredyth commands respect in his small English community, sustained by the loyal friendship of Sergeant Marigold, his former comrade from the African conflict. Together, bound by shared trauma and an unspoken understanding forged in battle, these two men maintain a delicate equilibrium in their provincial world.
But beneath the surface of this seemingly tranquil English town lies a dangerous secret. When Meredyth discovers troubling truths about one of the village's most beloved sons, he faces an agonizing moral dilemma: protect those he loves or preserve the honor and stability of his community. As war rages across Europe and uncertainty grips the nation, Meredyth must balance his loyalty, integrity, and compassion in ways that will test everything he holds dear.
A bestselling sensation in 1917, this profound literary war story explores themes of honor, sacrifice, disability, and the invisible wounds of combat. Ideal for readers drawn to historical fiction that examines human nature during turbulent times, The Red Planet offers a nuanced portrait of resilience and the moral complexities that define us.
