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A Conflict Between Love and Tradition
Beyond the Bukubuk Tree follows a young Jewish doctor and a Catholic WWI veteran who are assigned to the same battalion and form an unlikely bond. What inspired the setup of your story?
I wanted to convey two emotional truths in the novel: the beauty of Rabaul, which has a quality of enchantment as it nestles between active volcanoes and lush green flora; and the conflict between love and tradition during wartime. An uncle I never met served in that battalion, Lark Force, and his service inspired me to write Beyond. Family anecdotes suggest that he was conflicted about his sexuality although we don’t actually know. I felt a deep connection to an unspoken pain I saw in photographs of hm. Sharing this truth in a fictionalized character allows readers to connect with characters on a deeper level. I knew that in mainland New Guinea at this time, many incidents of male-male intimacy between soldiers were investigated by the Army. Like Alan Turing, gay soldiers gave their all to their country. It’s time to honor them.
Jake and Alex both have secrets they keep hidden and struggle with their emotions while remaining strong as the battles continue. There was a lot of time spent crafting the character traits in this novel. What was the most important factor for you to get right in your characters?
That they started from one way of functioning in society that repressed vital parts of themselves. With Jake, the orthodox Jewish doctor, it was his desires. With Whipple, his childhood and war traumas gave him a nihilistic view of humanity, stifling his capacity for hope and generosity. Their deepening bond in the crucible of war transformed them.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
First, Lark Force, the lone battalion of volunteers defending Rabaul, was under-resourced and abandoned by the Australian Government. Documents revealing that the government never had a plan to reinforce or extract them were concealed for 50 years. But the soldiers gradually realized their plight as peril approached. I wanted to bring to life those moments of revelation. Fiction seemed like a better genre for me than non-fiction.
Second, to convey the diverse population of Rabaul in 1941-2: Australian administrators and soldiers; a solid community of Chinese merchants; and the majority indigenous Tolai inhabitants. These communities’ cultures were opaque to each other but they were interdependent. I wanted characters from the different communities to have a voice in this war between white and Japanese colonists that upended all their lives. It was a risk to do this, but I felt compelled. I love Rabaul!
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I have a sequel to The Reversible Mask: An Elizabethan Spy Novel in rough shape but no scheduled release. Believe me, Literary Titan will be the first to know. My shorter articles on a variety of topics are likely to come out first. But thank you and readers can stay in touch with me via my website.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
New Guinea, 1941. Heroism, sacrifice and ultimately, hope, transcend the terrifying war.
Two men preparing for war, both with secrets they are determined to keep. Jake Friedman, an idealistic young Jewish doctor from Melbourne, is haunted by the death of a colleague he thinks he caused. Alex Whipple, a Catholic known as Wip, is a soul-scarred veteran of the First World War. Wip is an enigma who fights bullies on behalf of their victims yet has a chequered past in the wild side of post-war Paris that he is determined to forget.
Both are posted to Lark Force, a lone and under-resourced battalion defending the port town of Rabaul. It’s not long before Jake and Wip feel a deep pull of attraction. When the Japanese invade Rabaul, their battalion is abandoned by its government. Improvising a desperate jungle retreat, fighting rain, insects, disease, and vengeful Japanese pursuers, Jake will face the ultimate trials of his courage as Wip struggles to find the will to live.
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This meticulously researched and richly textured novel is set in a lesser-known battle of the Pacific War. The strength of the human spirit, the bonds of love, and the resilience of diverse communities are tested against the backdrop of these battles. “Beyond the Bukubuk Tree” is a gripping saga of courage, love, and survival in the face of overwhelming adversity.
PRAISE FOR BEYOND THE BUKUBUK TREE
This is a war novel like no other, an aching love-story of two people trying to do right when everything around them has gone wrong. With incredibly rich detail in her characters and their struggles, treating childhood polio, indigenous Tolai beliefs, the Aussie army during World War II and much more. Central to the story is a Jewish physician fighting his affection for a fellow officer, and a captivating, widely diverse supporting cast. With lyrical descriptions, the reader is absorbed into a time and place that history has forgotten, the tropical paradise of Rabaul on the deadly Pacific front line.
Nev March, author of award-winning Murder in Old Bombay
“Exquisite battle sequences of utter chaos. Readers can taste the feel of being outnumbered with antique WWI ordnance, all communications cut off, and no place to go. Homage to James Michener, Herman Wouk, and James Jones.”
Roger Crossland, retired U.S. Navy SEAL officer and author of The Abalone Ukulele
“You convey so well in your writing that Tolia people while very respectful are also a very proud lot.”
Tolai researcher Angelique Giranah, Director, Niugini Singaut Ltd.
“Gripping and sensual love story between two Australian officers during World War Two New Guinea, one a doctor driven to heal, the other an officer with a past he is determined to forget. Amid the worlds of army camp and hospital, the native Tolai, and the fight against fungus sores, malaria, and polio, Jake falls in love with the enigmatic Wip, love which was then against the law. The two men’s spiritual and physical bond will face even dire challenges as the first enemy bombs fall. BEYOND is an utterly fascinating nove. lMagically done. Very hard to put down, impossible to forget.”
Stephanie Cowell, author of Claude & Camille and The Boy in the Rain, American Book Award
Beyond the Bukubuk Tree: A World War II Novel of Love and Loss
Set against the tumultuous backdrop of New Guinea in 1941, Beyond the Bukubuk Tree, by Loretta Goldberg, is a masterfully crafted tale of heroism, sacrifice, and hope amidst the terrors of war. The story centers on two compelling characters: Jake Friedman, an idealistic young Jewish doctor from Melbourne, and Alex Whipple, a Catholic veteran of the First World War with a troubled past. Both men are posted to Lark Force, an under-resourced battalion defending the port town of Rabaul, and both carry secrets that haunt them. Jake is tormented by guilt over the death of a colleague he believes he caused, while Whipple struggles with memories of his chequered past in post-war Paris. Their relationship deepens as they face the impending Japanese invasion, leading to a desperate retreat through the jungle. This harrowing journey tests their courage and will to survive, with Jake facing the ultimate trials of bravery and Whipple battling his desire to live.
Author Loretta Goldberg’s meticulous research and rich narrative bring to life a lesser-known battle of the Pacific War. The novel explores themes of love, resilience, and the strength of the human spirit against overwhelming adversity. The characters are deeply complex and vividly portrayed, making their struggles and growth profoundly affecting. Beyond the Bukubuk Tree stands out not only as a gripping war novel but also as a poignant love story. The relationship between Jake and Whipple is sensitively and beautifully developed, set against the chaotic and dangerous backdrop of war.
Goldberg’s lyrical prose immerses readers in the tropical paradise of Rabaul, capturing both its beauty and its peril. The novel’s authentic portrayal of historical events, emotional depth, and character-driven narrative make it an unforgettable read. Readers will be captivated by the detailed descriptions, the intense battle sequences, and the touching moments of tenderness and connection. It’s a book that not only entertains but also offers a profound reflection on the resilience of the human spirit in the face of war’s horrors.
Beyond the Bukubuk Tree is an absorbing and satisfying read that will leave a lasting impression on anyone who picks it up. Loretta Goldberg has crafted a remarkable novel that combines the best elements of historical fiction and romance, making it a must-read for fans of both genres.
Pages: 395 | ASIN : B0D4MH8D63
A Compartmentalized Life
The Reversible Mask follows an ambitious man deeply devoted to the Catholic church who becomes a spy for the church before changing his mind and becoming a double agent serving patriotism and religion. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I was fascinated by the notion of a compartmentalized life, an inner conflict that could not be reconciled. Most of us deal with pulls in opposite directions. As an insurance agent I occasionally felt torn between the need of the institution and the needs of my clients. Today, most work and personal conflicts are resolvable. I sold my practice and now write.
But my spy, Edward Latham, couldn’t achieve resolution. He’s loosely based on a double agent of the time, Sir Anthony Standen. His was a pure lifetime experience of compartmentalization. Crawling around in his psyche was irresistibile, then I put Latham at the center of the iconic struggles of the turbulent Elizabethan era. My take on Standen from his letters is that he spied out of a principle of wanting the opposing sides to moderate their violence. Which drew me into an absorbing exploration of moral choices. Being a spy requires some level of betrayal; becoming a double agent doubles it. So how does an idealistic spy construct an individual moral code with individual red lines. Latham achieves this through his adventures.
I was helped in this framing by an interview I saw with a modern spy. In the video The Green Prince, the son of a Hamas leader who spied for Israel for 10 years talks about his new red lines.
What kind of research did you do for this novel to ensure you captured the essence of the story’s theme?
Many years. A lot of primary sources and secondary sources, Standen’s letters and dispatches to his handlers. There’s still no biography of Standen to the best of my knowledge. There are several academic articles and the authors have diverging views of him, some as a near traitor, self-deluded opportunist, others as one of Elizabeth’s most enterprising and courageous spies abroad. Again, irresistible to get my fix on a fictionalized spy inspired by him.
What is it about the Elizabethan era that makes it a great setting for your spy story?
To me it’s a time that resonates today. Upending of the Catholic Church’s dominance, the discovery of the New World, the beginning of science, traditional alliances between states and between mercantile organizations like the Hanseatic League and the emerging nation states, and the beginning of the idea of the companionate marriage that went beyond property acquisition. Excitement, anxiety, backlashes of violence and superstition. What’s NOT relevant? How can anyone not love the Elizabethan era?
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
Thank you for that question. A totally different adventure. I’m just back from a long trip to Papua New Guinea and Australia. My novel (just retitled) Beyond the Bukubuk Tree: A World War II Novel of Love and Loss is due for release in June also by MadeGlobal Publishing. The protagonist is an Australian Jewish doctor who volunteers to join the Army and is posted to Rabaul, the capital of Australia’s Mandated Territory of New Guinea, in 1941. He’s part of Lark Force, the lone and under-resourced battalion defending the town and its strategic environs. They face the full Japanese invasion. It’s a tale of love, betrayal, redemption and heroism. Lots of battle scenes, tropical medicine and polio treatment, two forbidden love stories, and diverse characters drawn from the complex society that was Rabaul in 1941. It won an International Firebird Book Award for War Fiction in July 2023.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Summer 1566. A glittering royal progress approaches Oxford. A golden age of prosperity, scientific advances, exploration and artistic magnificence. Elizabeth I’s Protestant government has much to celebrate.
But one young Catholic courtier isn’t cheering.
Conflicting passions–patriotism and religion–wage war in his heart. On this day, religion wins. Sir Edward Latham throws away his title, kin, and country to serve Catholic monarchs abroad.
But his wandering doesn’t quiet his soul, and when Europe’s religious wars threaten his beloved England and his family, patriotism prevails. Latham switches sides and becomes a double agent for Queen Elizabeth. Life turns complicated and dangerous as he balances protecting country and queen, while entreating both sides for peace.
Intrigue, lust, and war combine in this thrilling debut historical novel from Loretta Goldberg.
The Reversible Mask: An Elizabethan Spy Novel
Loretta Goldberg’s The Reversible Mask invites readers into the turbulent era of 16th-century Europe through the eyes of Sir Edward Latham, a Catholic courtier grappling with his role in Queen Elizabeth’s Protestant England. Feeling a sense of disconnection, Edward’s life takes a dramatic turn upon accepting an invitation from his friend Darnley, the husband of Queen Mary of Scotland. His allegiance shifts to the Catholic Queen Mary, only to find himself adrift once more when she is dethroned. Edward’s journey leads him into the complex web of espionage, ultimately working for the Spanish government amidst the heightening religious tensions that threaten war in England. This precarious situation forces Edward to reevaluate his loyalties, turning him into a double agent for Queen Elizabeth.
Goldberg’s narrative delves deeply into the themes of power and the human cost of ambition, weaving a tale that illuminates the intricate events that forged alliances and rivalries, shaping historical trajectories. Central to the story is Edward’s inner conflict as he wrestles with questions of integrity and personal ethics in a world where loyalty is a commodity. His decisions carry the weight of potential consequences that extend far beyond himself, impacting the fragile balance of power in Europe and international relations for generations. This book stands out for its rich portrayal of espionage during a time of monarchies and shifting allegiances. Goldberg’s thorough research and compelling storytelling bring this historical period to vivid life, offering readers an engaging and insightful exploration of the era. The narrative is bolstered by historically accurate details, nuanced characters, and an intricate plot that seamlessly melds religion, politics, and the human condition.
While this novel adeptly captures a world where faith, power, and personal beliefs intersect, it also addresses mature themes, making it more suitable for an adult audience. Fans of espionage and historical fiction will find The Reversible Mask a mesmerizing read that holds their attention to the last page.
Pages: 448 | ASIN : B07J5W4Z85
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