Witness to Life begins, oddly enough, with the death of the narrator Martin Radey. Martin finds himself travelling outside of time in a sort of purgatory where he is forced to re-examine the life he's lived. Born in 1880 in Elora, Ontario (a small village 60 miles northwest of Toronto) Martin picks up the story of his life as young man living with his parents in Toronto. Martin then begins to tell the story of his life, visiting various periods from 1898 up to 1950.

With Witness to Life, author Terence Green manages to weave a moving tale that is equal parts hope and regret. We see the promise in the lives of young Martin and his family and the regret that accumulates as time passes Martin by. In death Martin relives these moments trying to garner some meaning from the turns his life has taken.

What make this novel such a fascinating read is not only the story of Martin Radey and his family, but the manner in which Green has succeeded in bringing to life Toronto of yesteryear. Interwoven in Martin's narrative are rich descriptions of neighbourhoods and events, such as the Toronto fire of 1904, all of which help place the characters within their historical setting. I was pleased to see that the author had been thoughtful enough to include a simple although detailed map of Toronto in the preface of the book to assist the reader in orienting themselves with the various neighbourhoods that Martin mentions throughout.

For full review please visit
http://www.timetravelreviews.com/books/witness_to_life.html