Lemon Meringue Pie Author:Keith Watson Lemon Meringue Pie can best be described as a 'romantic adventure', painting a true and well researched picture of life in the Fifties whilst highlighting the difficulties faced by those who sought a new life 'Down Under'. — Steven Barkley, a National Serviceman in the Middlesex Regiment, is about to leave Cyprus at the end of his two year co... more »nscription when he receives a letter from Trudi Gruber with whom he had fallen in love while serving in Austria. She reveals she is pregnant with his baby and is emigrating to Australia with her mother and stepfather. She leaves no forwarding address and fails to confirm she has changed her surname to Kastner.
On impulse Steven joins 'Ten Pound Poms' in charge of a party of men through the 'Big Brother Movement', hoping to find Trudi and keep his promise to her. During the voyage he makes contact with an Australian, Peter Spence, who will play a major role in Steven's life and employment over the next few years.
Meanwhile the Kastners, totally disillusioned with the harshness of camp life, decide to invest in a winery but begin by working for an Australian with German ancestry, in order to learn the art before developing their own business.
After several adventures and having gained more knowledge of the Australian way of life, Steven and Peter set up a Recruitment Agency to place British immigrants in suitable employment in New South Wales. Steven tries unsuccessfully to find Trudi although their paths almost cross on more than one occasion and he now finds himself becoming involved with Wendy after Peter, her husband and Steven's partner, is tragically killed.
There are many twists and turns before the story reaches an unexpected conclusion.« less