My Dearest Bea: Love Letters from the USS Midway by Peyton H. Roberts

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I don’t know what it is about epistolary books, but lately I can’t get enough of them. Something the author says in her postscript rang true to me: “As handwritten correspondence becomes a lost pastime, I believe old letters will become even more cherished. The sentiments and stories inside unlock a door to the past, allowing loved ones to live on vibrantly in our hearts long after goodbye.”

It’s a labor of love that Roberts has performed here, not only reconstructing the early years of her grandparents’ marriage for her own family, but for all of us. These letters provide an unselfconscious glimpse into the heart of a young sailor almost seventy five years ago. The language of the time is preserved like amber; the sentiments are timeless. The book is short and sweet (without being saccharine) and is a reminder to all of us that there’s so much hope for humanity – a tonic during times when it’s easy to despair about the world.

H. Roberts, Peyton . My Dearest Bea: Love Letters from the USS Midway (p. 123). Anchor Line Press LLC. Kindle Edition.



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