Theatre of war - Hilary Green

It is 1942. The theatres of war are North Africa and Italy. All eyes follow the front, but behind the scenes a messier war continues, an improvised game of snatched triumphs, terrible mistakes and torturous uncertainty.

Cabaret singer by night, spy by day, Richard risks his life to help British servicemen escape occupied France and get back to England.

Rose leads a group of dancers with mixed morals high-kicking to entertain the troops as Hitler's bombers roar in the skies above. Then she is given orders to join the forces in the field, destination unknown.

Meanwhile a phantom pianist, who has lost the love of his life, is following Monty's soldiers across the African desert, mocking the enemies' guns by playing Beethoven between the lines.

This is a moving and exhilirating novel about how men and women keep their hopes - and themselves - alive under seemingly impossible circumstances.