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From the author’s desk, April 2023

1 April, 2023 in From the author's desk

In answer to the often asked enquiry, I am happy to tell you that ‘Joy and Sorrow Unmasked – a story of Bath’, the third novel in The Westcott Chronicles, is progressing well: the first draft, with over sixty chapters and eighty thousand words, continues apace. Its Prologue describes the possible destruction of Chatham Row in 1972, whilst writing this I was  reminded of the prologue in my first book  and what Bathonians faced just over sixty years ago:

PROLOGUE

10.50pm Saturday April 25th 1942

 

Ernst Richter sensed the other nine Luftwaffe planes bank

and turn as he led them between the hills of the Limpley Stoke

valley. Flying in formation two thousand metres above the

meandering River Avon, the squadron of Junkers Ju 88s

followed the silver ribbon sparkling in the moonlight, guiding

them to the centre of Bath – Hitler’s immediate retaliation to

the Royal Air Force bombing Lubeck.

They were the first wave of a hundred and sixty German

bombers from France, loaded with more than three quarters

of a million kilograms of high explosives and incendiaries

destined for the city in the next six hours. The note written

below the two perforated aerial photographs of Bath, torn

from Richter’s target book simply stated: ‘Aim to the south

of the largest crescent shape housing block.’

 

Back to the future, and the objective of meeting the deadline of next Christmas for ‘Joy and Sorrow Unmasked’.

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Reviews

‘An interesting and believable cast of characters move through the conflict of development versus conservation, still relevant in Bath today as the city continues to deal with how society and social mores have changed over the years.’

Kate Joyce

‘Yet again Douglas Westcott provides the reader with a masterful insight into the City of Bath.’

Peter Groves

“A young man buffeted by world events is left reeling, but survives to build his own empire in Bath. The ancient city has seen it all and has her own cards to play...  Douglas Westcott writes from experience of the chaos of history, business, and wild passions in this gripping trilogy.”

Tom Craigmyle

“Much enjoyed the evolving lives of the characters and can relate to the untold history of Bath amidst settings so familiar.”

Philip Jennings

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