Seeking Courage

"This is a wonderful novel. It is exciting, engaging, gut-wrenching, enjoyable, and sorrowful to read. I looked forward to continuing the story each time I picked it up again. The best thing about it is that it brings to life what people were experiencing in the First World War. Like Stephen Crane’s The Red Badge of Courage, this novel gives us truths about being in war that you’ll never get from any history text. I could tell that the author had insights — from actually being in the cockpit of an FE2b — that I’ve never picked up in 25 years of studying WWI bombing campaigns."

--Steve Suddaby, Past President, WWI Historical Association, Annadale, Virginia

"Seeking Courage by Gregory Smith brings to life the plight of a soldier during the Great War, one who moves from the trenches to take flight over them. As an Aviator myself I can relate to the desire to slip the surly bonds of earth and take to the air over the grit and horrors faced by infantrymen on the ground. This story is more than a tale of one Aviator, it is the story of humanity and the choices we make.

Seeking Courage is a dynamic historical novel which describes in great detail the life of a young Canadian driven to defend democracy. Fighting on foreign soil he is inspired by love and compassion. This brings him to the realisation that he has the chance to pursue life to the fullest and the freedom to make his own choices.

--Gene Demarco, Aviation Consultant & FE2b Pilot, New Zealand

"I enjoyed reading the novel very much. For most of it, I had to set a timer to make sure I didn’t sit here for countless hours. I especially enjoyed the scenes of flying and the fliers’ lives. They were vivid, exciting and well-paced. The love scenes were tactfully handled and reflected well Lt. Pitman’s romantic nature."

--Susan Hall-Balduf, Former Publications Editor, the Western Front Association, Detroit Michigan

"I was definitely drawn in at the beginning of the book… As someone who does not know a lot of WWI, I really found value in being transported to the front lines and understanding from the perspective of the protagonist the situations of war. I found value in learning new things that I didn't know previously. I thought that the use of imagery and personification was used very well throughout the story…I would recommend this book."

--Jill Saevitzon, Legal & Business Manager, Television Industry, Toronto, Canada

From the Back Cover

Lieutenant Robert Courtenay Pitman is honor bound to give up his Canadian law studies to fight for the Great War cause…

By 1916, he leads an infantry platoon in western France, where he is struck down in a pitiless bombardment. Post-shell-shock life brings about changes: battling self-doubt, risking life in open aircraft, and finding love.

As Pitman recovers from injuries sustained at the Somme, he meets the beautiful suffragette and munitionette Miss Cissy Ann Taylor. As Cissy applies her gifted skills on an English factory floor and Bob follows orders from 100 Squadron to undertake increasingly dangerous sorties night bombing over France, their love flourishes,

This true-to-life accounting of a young man thrust into war describes the horror of mechanized slaughter – the first of its kind, never witnessed in any prior war – and the power of love that drives his courage. This story is a remembrance of all servicemen who fought for the lasting democracy we still enjoy today.