They met by chance at a small-town Illinois picnic in 1915. He was a restless harnessmaker’s son with a shock of unruly hair; she was a sharp-witted schoolgirl with dark, perceptive eyes. Neither could have imagined that their budding romance would soon be tested by a world at war, and that their love would need to cross oceans, survive trenches, and outlast silence to finally come home.
Author’s Tranquility Press is thrilled to announce the publication of “Courage of the Heart: An American Odyssey 1915 to 1923” by Christine Chatterton. This remarkable book breathes life into a true epic, recovered from a forgotten box of letters hidden away for decades in a small Illinois home.
At its core, “Courage of the Heart” is the story of Haidee Wilson and Maurice Chatterton. Their journey begins with the simple, hopeful promises of youth, but is soon shattered by the Great War. Driven by a sense of duty that his own country would not yet fulfill, Maurice makes a daring choice, crossing the border to enlist with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. His letters to Haidee — the very ones that form the backbone of this narrative — chart a course through unimaginable horror: from the grueling training camps to the nightmarish Western Front, where he endured a mustard gas attack, a devastating hand injury, and a brutal winter starvation march to Normandy. Amid these hardships, he also grappled with the pain of separation from his two brothers, each serving in different and equally dangerous wartime roles.
Back home, Haidee’s world was also a battlefield. She faced the Spanish Flu pandemic that swept through her town, nursing her own family back from the brink while clinging to the hope that the next letter would arrive. Her strength became the anchor for a love stretched across the ocean.
Author Christine Chatterton, who knew Haidee and Maurice as an elderly couple, weaves their raw, personal correspondence with a rich, narrative tapestry. She reconstructs the world they lived in — the dusty main streets of Bushnell, the terror of the home front, the quiet despair of a family waiting for news. The result is a story that feels not like a historical account, but a living, breathing experience.
“They were real people, not just characters,” Chatterton reflects. “Finding Maurice’s letters was like hearing his voice again after all those years. This book is my attempt to honor their incredible endurance, to show that sometimes the most profound love stories aren’t fairy tales — they are stories of survival.”
“Courage of the Heart” is a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit. It is a tribute to a generation that faced global catastrophe with grit and grace, and a timeless testament to a love that refused to be extinguished. For readers who cherished the emotional depth of “The Notebook” and the historical sweep of “All the Light We Cannot See,” this true story promises to become an instant favorite.
Discover the odyssey that time almost forgot. “Courage of the Heart” is now available for purchase on Amazon in Hardcover, Softcover, and eBook formats.
About the Author
Christine Chatterton devoted nearly thirty years to teaching Reading and Writing Improvement, inspiring students to develop their creativity and communication skills. In retirement, she has embraced a new chapter as an author, poet, and artist, channeling her lifelong passion for nature, history, and storytelling into her work.
Christine’s heartfelt storytelling shines through in all her work, including her childhood memoir The Kids on Ford Street. She invites readers to connect with her on a personal level—sharing thoughts, reflections, poetry, and memories that complement her own on her blog. At 63, she describes this creative journey as a “new chapter” and embraces it with enthusiasm and grace.
About Author’s Tranquility Press
Author’s Tranquility Press is a dedicated partner for authors seeking to bring their visions to life. As a full-service publishing support company, they provide a comprehensive suite of services including marketing, editing, cover design, and strategic distribution. Their mission is to help authors navigate the modern publishing landscape and ensure their stories find the audience they deserve.
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