The Red Tunic

History and gender are intertwined in this fast-paced arresting account of the First World War and its devastating impact on familial and romantic bonds

‘Richly imagined and devastatingly real. Readers will ache and cheer for its heroes and their unforgettable journey of brave self-discovery’ Tracey Enerson-Wood, author of The War Nurse

As headstrong as her twin is gentle, Nina has never fit the womanly mould society expects of her. Alfie and Nina Mullins have always relied on their shared world of hope and make-believe for comfort, but as the pressure on Alfie to prove himself at the Front mounts, Nina is presented with more possibility than she had ever imagined and the two are pushed in wildly different directions.

Throwing caution to the wind, the twins swap places, Nina serving as a soldier in her brother's name, Alfie as a nurse, and both thrive regardless of the threat that Alfie could be executed for desertion if they are discovered.

Coming of age as the First World War breaks out, the Mullins twins’ fates are inextricably interlinked with the turmoil of conflict in this fascinating exploration of gender roles and the extremes to which war pushes us.

‘A thoroughly enjoyable novel’  Historical Novel Society

Paperback: 240pp

Published: Wilton Square (August 2024) 

ISBN: 9781915584137