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A "particularly compelling" novel of brotherhood and brutality among a band of World War I deserters (Publishers Weekly).A small group of soldiers, led by an Australian named Viney, has fled the trenches of the Western front. Now they scavenge to survive in the desolate area known as no man's land.One of them, Josh, is shaken by the brutality he has witnessed. Another, Lothar, was a German aristocrat who had no desire to die as a supposed hero. There are tensions among the group, but they are united in their disdain for the war that rages around them--and Lothar and Josh share another bond, as each has been traumatized by the loss of a brother during the fighting.But as the runaway soldiers hide in the wilds of eastern France, their iron-fisted leader is being targeted by a Military Police captain with a personal vendetta--and they may find that no matter where they run, they cannot escape danger, in this novel of the First World War that offers "a different kind of story" (The New York Times)."[An] imaginative war story... It is Hill's compassionate portrayal of the intricacies of sibling (and romantic) bonding and bereavement that render this novel particularly compelling." --Publishers Weekly"Vivid background detail, an intricate but believable plot, and solid development of innumerable major and minor characters." --Library Journal
A group of deserters from the trenches of the Western Front attempts to survive in the perilous, lawless landscape of no man's land. Led by an Australian soldier named Viney, the small band of runaways includes men like Josh and the German aristocrat Lothar, each driven by trauma and a shared rejection of the conflict. As they navigate the wilds of eastern France, they face internal friction and the constant threat of discovery by a vengeful Military Police captain. The narrative explores the psychological weight of their desertion and the fragile bonds formed in the shadow of total war.
Critical reception for this novel highlights its departure from traditional war narratives by focusing on the intimate, often overlooked experiences of those who choose to abandon the front lines. Reviewers have noted the strength of the character development, particularly in how the author handles the intricacies of sibling and romantic bonds amidst the chaos of conflict. The prose is frequently praised for its vivid background detail and the ability to maintain an intricate, believable plot despite the grim subject matter. Readers and critics alike find the portrayal of the deserters' internal struggles to be a compelling aspect of the work, offering a nuanced perspective on the human cost of the First World War.
Page Count:
0
Publication Date:
1985-10-10
Publisher:
Collins
ISBN-10:
0002229099
ISBN-13:
9780002229098
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