Book Description

Homefront: It's hard to separate that word from war. In the First and Second World Wars, the homefront was a clear entity and location--if you weren't on the frontlines, you were on the homefront. But during current times of peacekeeping, peacemaking and armed interventions, the notion of homefront seems to comprise only those who are in some way directly affected by the military: family and friends or ex-soldiers--an invisible group camouflaged by everyday jobs and activities. Editors Barb Howard and Joan Dixon have compiled an insightful collection of essays and reflections from 14 writers, including Melanie Murray, Scott Waters, Ryan Flavelle and Chris Turner. All have found themselves, at one time or another, embedded on the homefront. And even though each experience is unique and comes from a single perspective, common motifs surface: family, fate, death and memory. This anthology captures triumphs, incredible fortitude and humour, often in the face of grief, as well as the complicated logic, fears, anger and other everyday realities that are part of homefront life.