This book was recently published by the grandson of the great J.R.R Tolkien of “Lord of the Rings” fame.

However “No Mans Land” - though not a biography of the elder Tolkiens experiences in WW1 -does touch on the experiences he must have endured.

The contrast is horrifying in some ways - the privileged Edwardian country house lifestyle contrasted with the horrors of WW1 trench warfare.

The main character Adam Raine endures a rollercoaster of life experiences: from his humble lower class upbringing via class warfare via trench warfare via re-engaging in civilian post WW1 life.

Trying not to relive the absurdity of trench warfare by trying to explain to the civilians left at home ,who were fed a very different narrative by the generals and the politicians.

Its a captivating read and well paced.

In some ways the fiction of the grandfather Tolkien reminded me of the escapism in the literature of Roald Dahl - a young WW2 Battle of Britain fighter pilot in 1940 ,who would write children’s books such as “Fantastic Mr Fox”.

The plots had dark twists and a survival instinct - no doubt as a result of daily near death experiences during aerial combat.

“No Mans Land” is a great read and recommended highly.

Indeed it is a tonic for these times as well.

More info here:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28924044-no-man-s-land