Book review - There Will Come Soft Rains

 * A huge thank you to Briana Gervat for sending me a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review.

There Will Come Soft Rains: A Journey Along the Western Front by Briana Gervat

Thirty-six days. 500 miles. Over one million steps. In 2022, Briana Gervat set out to walk across the landscape of the Western Front.

In the aftermath of the Covid pandemic, history lover Briana hoped that walking the Western Front alone would bring her a sense of inner peace. She wanted to grieve the past and experience the very landscapes that had witnessed such unimaginable horrors.

I’m ashamed to admit that I know embarrassingly little about the Great War. Thankfully, this book includes poignant stories and eye-opening statistics about those who experienced it. These anecdotes broke my heart. So many lives, tragically lost. There Will Come Soft Rains is a beautiful homage to them all.

One of the recurring questions in this book is: Why? Why hasn’t the world learned from the Great War (or any war)? We are still sending men and women to fight and die. It feels like a never-ending cycle.

But there is always hope. At the start of the trail, Briana came across a sheet of metal with a hole torn through its centre by an artillery shell, wild vines now growing through the gap. It was the first of many moments in the book where nature reveals its quiet determination to reclaim land once devastated by war.

The author introduces us to fascinating people she met along the trail, each with their own story to share. These kind strangers help restore faith in humanity. Briana also visits numerous memorials and museums, where dedicated staff and volunteers work to keep alive the memory of those long gone.

I’m always in awe of people who undertake remarkable feats of endurance like Briana’s, not just because of the intense physical demands and dedication involved, but because of the bravery it takes to do it alone. I’d be terrified!

Although Briana faced harsh weather, the pain of walking such great distances, and at times a lack of drinking water, she kept going. I found her journey incredibly inspiring. Her descriptive writing painted such vivid scenes that by the end, I felt like I had walked beside her.

Her love for history, nature, France, and food shines through. The mouth-watering descriptions of meals made my stomach rumble more than once! Briana’s stunning photography throughout the book allows us to see some of the beautiful and poignant sights she encountered along the way.

There Will Come Soft Rains is a thought-provoking, inspiring, and beautifully written book — a touching tribute to history and the human spirit.

I highly recommend reading it.

You can buy your copy here.