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THE RED HOUSE
By: Nicholson Burke
War took his future. Love gave him another.
When Captain Colin McKenzie survives the horrors of the Somme, he returns from the First World War with wounds that may never heal. Told that England’s damp climate will slowly claim his life, he and the compassionate nurse who captured his heart leave everything behind for the promise of a new beginning in Southern Rhodesia.
But the untamed frontier holds challenges of its own. As they pursue a dream of building a home and a future, they are drawn into a world of land disputes, old grudges, and dangerous rivalries where the scars of war extend far beyond the battlefield.
Rich in historical detail and unforgettable characters, The Red House is a compelling story of courage, resilience, love, and the enduring hope of starting over.
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“In the brutal aftermath of the Somme battlefield, Colin McKenzie’s gas injury compels his emigration to the warmer colonial Rhodesia. The Red House shifts from battlefield trauma to the complex and violent realities of settlement. Into this mix are constant upheavals of land disputes, the horrifying grimness of the Spannish Flu and murder. A story that travels from the glens of Scotland to the dust and heat of Africa. It draws you in from the onset. An exquisite tale that reflects the lives of many Scots who moved to this part of the Rhodesias to seek a better life. It twists and turns, and keeps you hooked , until the very end. A saga of love and family. A really good read.”
—Caroline Emeny. Suffolk, England.
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An enthralling, brilliantly written story that captures the true essence of grit and determination to succeed despite the many obstacles faced. The Red House charts a country growing and the loves and loss faced by those challenged to survive.”
—Shannagh Benney. Oxfordshire. England.
About The Author
Though born is Scotland, Nicholson Burke spent his teenage years at school in what was Rhodesia. He went into education and worked as a teacher, sports coach and Headmaster through his adult life, bot…
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A sweeping historical journey about surviving unimaginable hardship, finding unexpected love, and creating a new life in an unfamiliar land after everything familiar has been lost.
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ISBN 13 (SOFT): 9798765216415
ISBN 13 (eBook): 9798765216422
