A Time for Peace

Set in Serbia during the First World War, the lives of a brave soldier and a patriotic medical orderly interweave.Stefan is brutalised by war atrocities but torn by loyalty to his men. Ellen buries the memory of women's rotting corpses piled in a church.When Serbia is occupied during 1915, the army, 30,000 of its cadets, and hundreds of its people evacuate in a mass exodus to Corfu.In the worst Balkan winter in living memory, Stefan leads the rear guard action and Ellen escorts cadets.>There is a satisfying blend of spareness and depth in A Time for Peace, which is very accomplished. Marg Roberts has a natural-seeming ability to blend outer sensory detail with inner life and a light touch with perfectly poised use of sensory detail that brings scenes alive. There is a subtlety that knows about pacing and delivery as well as understatement. A fine and brave novel.>This is a very convincing piece of writing. The terse tone suits the subject matter and the characters inhabit their world well.- Ian Breckon, author of Knight of Swords