This event will include a talk from Roseanna, followed by a Q&A session with tea/coffee and light refereshments available.
Dear Mr Snippet follows newly-married couple John and Rita, as their lives, home and family are transformed by the trials of World War II. Featuring photographs alongside real letters and diary entries shared between the couple and their children, transcribed painstakingly by their granddaughter Roseanna, this touching World War II memoir sheds light not only John and Rita’s story, but also the highs and lows faced by many military families, both during World War II and beyond.
Passionately in love and hilariously witty in their banter with one another, John and Rita’s letters, some of which will be on display at The London Postal Museum from 29th April 2025, offer a unique wartime conversation that bridges military and civilian worlds, and transports readers back to another time via an unreplicated authentic perspective. The impact of war on children becomes an increasingly important focus as the story progresses, with John and Rita’s two young children struggling with absent parents and separation, housing difficulties, ill-health, and constant uncertainty, to name but a few.
This focus, combined with her own childhood experiences with parental absence, led Roseanna to contact Little Troopers, a charity supporting all military children who have parents currently serving in the British Armed Forces. The charity is delighted to be collaborating with Roseanna on this project, using Dear Mr Snippet to help raise awareness of its incredible work.
With the perfect blend of humour, romance and tragedy, Dear Mr Snippet is impossible to put down, drawing readers in with John and Rita’s engaging, chatty writing styles and open, honest conversations. Perfect for anyone wanting to learn more about this period of history in an accessible way; gain insight into the realities of being a military partner or child, and fans of World War Two fiction and non-fiction alike.
About the author
As a trained teacher, Roseanna Rolph enjoyed using stories and objects from the past to shed light on the present. Utilising research skills developed during her studies for her MA in Education, and a fair amount of detective work, she has carefully pieced together Dear Mr Snippet, a unique time-capsule of a story, which juxtaposes life in the armed forces and as a civilian, and details how her grandparents worked to fight their own and their country’s wars. Through this touching memoir, she shares her fondness for how letters, diaries and photographs transport us back to another time, whilst unveiling new understandings.
Since writing Dear Mr Snippet, Roseanna has been given an elected membership to the Royal Historical Society. Following in her grandparent’s footsteps, she lives in Surrey, England, and likes nothing better than to correspond by and receive letters, recognising that they can become important touchstones and keepsakes at different points of our lives. She can often be found rummaging in antique shops in search of another curiosity from the past.
