The mental toll of war is explored in this historical fiction story. ‘Sailor’s Heart’ by Martin Campbell follows three naval soldiers, who’s experience of WWII leads them to require treatment at the HMS Standard. The author takes their time introducing up to each of the characters, how they came to be in the Navy during the war and the experiences which lead to them requiring medical treatment. We see the human and mental health toll of the war and the brutal, almost barbaric treatment options available to psychiatrists then. My heart went out to the characters as they reached their breaking points and the treatment they received. Using locations and details that are based on historical and naval records, I thought that the author managed to interweave the fictional tales of these three characters seamlessly. This is a story of how the war impacted individuals, as opposed to being overshadowed or glossed over with victory in a more politically abstract sense. In turns heart-breaking and hopeful, I rooted for Marco, Duncan and Clarence to find some sort of peace as I read. ‘Sailor’s Heart’ is a character-driven and thought-provoking look into the treatment of psychiatric injury as well as a story of courage. I think this would appeal to readers of wartime fiction.
Based on true events. 1942. The war at sea is being lost. One per cent of all naval personnel are being referred as psychiatric casualties. The British Admiralty introduces the Stone Frigate approach. Three men fight for their country in the Arctic convoys of World War II, then for their sanity and dignity, labelled as cowards and subjected to experimental psychiatry at an isolated facility set up to by the British Admiralty to recycle men back into battle. To the Navy they are faulty parts, not constitutionally suited to operate at sea. To the public they are poltroons, malingerers and psychiatric cases. The places in this story are real, but everyone who played a part in what happened is now dead. It is safe to tell what really happened. What was important then, nobody cares about now. True courage is facing danger when you are afraid, surviving in the circus of war.
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