On 8 October Seren Books published Dear Mona: Letters from a Conscientious Objector, a new book by Jonah Jones, edited by his son and biographer Peter Jones. He is also the author of the biography Jonah Jones: an Artist’s Life, published by Seren Books in 2011.
The book launch took place before an invited audience at Insole Court, Llandaff on Wednesday 14 November 2018. Among the guests was David Lovell, the nephew of Mona Lovell, who passed on to Peter a box of hundreds of wartime letters to her from Jonah (or Len, as he was known at the time), which provided the source material for the book.
At the book launch on 14 November. Peter Jones is centre, holding a copy of his book. Third and fourth from the left of the photograph are Mick Felton, manager of Seren Books, and David Lovell. Others in the group are family and friends.
Seren Books said that the book:
… records in his own words not just the story of his early life and his relationship with Mona Lovell, but also that of the Second World War, of being on the Home Front, on the European battlefield and in the nascent Israel.
These letters are a remarkable first-hand account of how Jones’ character evolved. Like a number of conscientious objectors he eventually took a more active role in the fight against fascism by becoming a non-arms-bearing medic. In this role he was parachuted into northern Europe and took part in the Ardennes and German campaigns, and in the liberation of the Belsen concentration camp.
After the war he was posted to Palestine, where he observed the issues surrounding the establishment of Israel, but was also able to hone his artistic skills for the benefit of his regiment. It was in Haifa that, much to Mona Lovell’s dismay, he met and married another woman – Judith Grossman – with whom he returned to Britain to set up as an artist, now known as Jonah Jones.
Dear Mona gives detailed insight into the evolution of Jones’ character, as he changed from gauche Len Jones to artist Jonah Jones. It also tells in intimate detail the story of the Home Front, of conscientious objection, of the European campaign following D Day and of the tensions in Palestine, which resonate still today. It is a remarkable, immediate account: personal, intimate and yet also history, played out before his eyes.
Update: All remaining stock of the book has now been moved from Seren Books to Scene & Word. It can be ordered from the Jonah Jones Store on https://sceneandword.org/product/dear-mona-letters-from-a-conscientious-objector-edited-by-peter-jones/