The Foreshadowing – Marcus Sedgwick
Allen & Unwin Dolphin, 2006
278 pages
RRP: AU$14.95
ISBN: 1-84255-517-0

Reviewed by Kate Smith

The Foreshadowing is set in Britain and France during the years of World War One and tells the story of Alexandra Fox, a young woman born into a middle-class, well-regarded family during those years.  Having seen future deaths at different moments since the age of five, Alexandra must cope with what these mean, with the fact that her family refuse to acknowledge that she has this ability, and with the ongoing World War that is changing her world and her family.  After the death of her older brother, Alexandra decides that she cannot accept her vision of her other brother’s death and finds her way to France to try to save him from the fate she has seen.  In order to finally reach him she is aided by a dispatch rider who also has visions of impending deaths.

I was not expecting the story presented to me, and was very pleasantly surprised.  Based on what is written on the cover of the book, I would not necessarily have picked it up to read.  I have read many tales based in historical events and too often the author does not have a good understanding of the period or cannot explain themselves effectively in the story, or both.  Happily Sedgwick did not have either of these problems when writing The Foreshadowing.  This is not a historical text and is not written as such, however the way he has phrased and explained himself gives the reader an excellent mental picture of the world around the major character at all times.  Regardless of how much you can believe that a nurse could do the trip to the front lines as described, the story is written well and disbelief, if it exists in the mind of the reader, is suspended.  The fact that the story was written in a simple manner with little complex description of detail makes the tale more effective and a far more enjoyable read.

The Foreshadowing can be read on a number of levels.  Firstly, it is a straightforward account of a young woman’s attempt to save her brother.  However it can also be read as a personal tale of discovery of confidence and of self.  Alexandra is, by the end of the story, far more confident in herself and in her own abilities partly for having approached her fears and achieved despite them.  Lastly it can also be read as a philosophic tale about whether it is possible to change the future. Do we all just struggle for what is supposed to happen anyway, or is there a possibility to change what will likely be but what is not yet carved in stone?  While Sedgwick provides his answer to this, he does not insist on the reader taking this perspective and allows further thought on the subject once the story has been finished and put aside.

Because of this ability to be read in simple and more complex ways, this book is appropriate for a wide range of ages.  It is something that younger readers are perhaps more likely to enjoy however it is an enjoyable and interesting quick read for adults as well.